Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Rizky Amelia – Two former lawmakers accused of taking bribes in the selection of Miranda Goeltom to a senior post at the central bank told a court on Monday that they believed the funds had been meant as a religious donation.
"I though the money was sent by an anonymous donor for Umi Kalsoem, my Islamic boarding school," Daniel Tandjung, a former lawmaker for the Islam-based United Development Party (PPP), said at his trial at the Anti-Corruption Court.
He claimed that he only learned that the Rp 500 million ($58,500) he received in traveler's checks were linked to the graft scandal through news reports.
Sofyan Usman, who also served in the House of Representatives as a PPP legislator, told the court that he too thought the Rp 250 million check he had received was a donation, in his case for a house of worship he was building. "I was the head of the construction committee for the mosque and I worked hard to collect donations," Sofyan said.
Both men are among 24 former and sitting lawmakers charged with taking bribes – to ensure Miranda's appointment in 2004. If convicted, Daniel and Sofyan could be jailed for 18 months each.
The pair has admitted to receiving the money from senior PPP member Endin Soefihara, who has been found guilty in the scandal. Daniel told the court that once he learned the money was a bribe, he tried to return the checks.
Endin was sentenced to two years for his role in the case, but was released on parole nearly two months ago, an official revealed on Monday.
He was let free on April 25, along with Udju Djuhaeri, a former legislator from the now-defunct police and armed forces faction, said Akbar Hadi Prabowo, a spokesman for the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights. Hamka Yandu of the Golkar Party was also released on May 17.
"All three men have served two-thirds of their respective terms," Akbar said. The three were convicted in May 2010, with Udju and Hamka sentenced to two and two-and-a-half years, respectively. A fourth politician convicted in the case, Dudhie Makmun Murod of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), was also granted parole.
The National Police are still searching for fugitive suspect Nunun Nurbaeti, who has been accused of handing out the traveler's checks.
Her family claims she is in Singapore seeing treatment for a mystery illness that causes memory loss. But Law and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar has said he had been told that Nunun had been in Thailand but left for Cambodia. Her passport has been revoked.
At a House hearing, Sr. Comr. Hasan Malik, secretary of National Police's National Central Bureau, said the force had already issued an Interpol red notice to 188 countries for Nunun's arrest.