Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Anita Rachman & Ronna Nirmala – Speculation is rife over whether the capture of Nunun Nurbaetie, and her return to Jakarta, will finally allow the public to learn who arranged for the election of Miranda Goeltom as a central bank deputy governor, and why.
A total of 30 former lawmakers have been jailed for accepting billions of rupiah in bribes, allegedly from Nunun, delivered in the form of traveler's checks, to ensure Miranda's election at the House of Representatives.
Azis Syamsuddin, deputy chairman of House Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, welcomed Nunun's return to Indonesia, saying he hoped it would shed light on the unresolved Miranda case.
"Now the Corruption Eradication Commission [KPK] really needs to prove it can work professionally. Bust the case wide open and reveal who was the puppet-master behind this bribery case," Azis said in Pekanbaru, Riau, on Sunday.
Azis called on law enforcement officials to avoid any actions that could worsen public distrust of the nation's justice system. "The principle of justice must be enforced, and those who are really in the wrong, especially the mastermind, must receive appropriate punishment," the Golkar Party politician said.
A similar sentiment was voiced by Emerson Yuntho, from Indonesia Corruption Watch. "We hope that with [Nunun's arrest] she can reveal who was behind her," he said on Saturday. "She was only the intermediary."
During the original investigation into the case, the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) determined that the traveler's checks given to the lawmakers were purchased from Bank International Indonesia by First Mujur Plantation and Industry, a palm oil firm connected to tycoon Tommy Winata.
Krishna Pribadi, a BII executive, told the Anti-Corruption Court in March 2010 that First Mujur purchased the checks on the day Miranda was elected, through another of Tommy's companies, Bank Artha Graha.
"At first I thought the buyer was Artha Graha but I discovered later that it was actually First Mujur. Artha Graha was just a mediator," Krishna said.
Tommy has denied any knowledge of the transaction. "I have never had any connection with BI [Bank Indonesia] and no communication with it. I have never had any personal connection with Miranda," Tommy said in March this year.
Agus Condro Prayitno, the key whistle-blower in the case, has offered some advice to Nunun. The former Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker, who was recently after serving jail time for accepting a the traveler's checks, encouraged Nunun to tell investigators everything she knows, and to seek protection.
"To Ibu Nunun, I say sing. Name names in this case. If you feel afraid to name the main actor behind it all, ask for help from the LPSK [the Victim and Witness Protection Agency]," Agus said on Sunday. "She [Nunun] is the key to fully uncovering this case and learning the truth," he added.