Novianti Setuningsih – During interrogation by the Corruption Eradication Commission on Thursday, a deputy chairman of the House of Representatives Budget Committee, Tamsil Linrung, admitted to being responsible for the disbursement of development funds to several districts in Aceh.
The disbursement became headlines after the antigraft body known as the KPK arrested Budget Committee member Wa Ode Nurhayati in January for accepting bribes to ensure funding was allocated for projects in three Aceh districts.
She allegedly received about Rp 6 billion ($654,000) between October and November 2010 in exchange for her help in securing Rp 40 billion in funds for the three districts.
Wa Ode has accused other committee members, including Tamsil, a lawmaker from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), of having received kickbacks from the projects.
"I chaired three meetings to discuss [disbursement] of the project funding. I told the KPK that I was responsible for the disbursement," Tamsil told reporters on Friday. He said the decision had been made without violating any laws, denying allegations he had received kickbacks from agreeing on the disbursement.
After her arrest, Wa Ode told the media she had submitted documents to the KPK showing that other budget committee members had received bribes to approve the disbursement.
The KPK searched the committee's office last month after questioning Wa Ode. After the search, the KPK said it had widened its probe to other members, including Tamsil, Melchias Markus Mekeng of the Golkar Party, Olly Dondokambey of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Mirwan Amir of the Democratic Party.
Johan Budi, a KPK spokesman, said the antigraft body was investigating the other Budget Committee members.
In separate questioning on Thursday, Olly, also a deputy chairman of the budget committee, said he knew nothing about any kickbacks received by other members and denied all accusations made by Wa Ode.
The KPK has named businessman Fahd Arafiq, who allegedly paid the bribe, as another suspect in the case.
Before her arrest, Wa Ode said she would divulge details she claimed would implicate the leadership of the Budget Committee in the bribery scandal.
Antigraft activists have expressed hope that Wa Ode's arrest will shed light on much bigger cases involving the committee's leaders, who wield great power over where money is distributed for development projects across the country.
Wa Ode, a member of the National Mandate Party (PAN), last year had been something of a public darling, gaining considerable media coverage for blowing the whistle on her colleagues.
She claimed in May that lawmakers entrusted with budget oversight were skimming between 7 percent and 15 percent from funds allocated for regional infrastructure projects, resulting in 10 provinces and 126 districts missing out on funding.