Rizky Amelia – The trial of graft suspect Miranda Goeltom opened on Tuesday with the prosecution alleging that the University of Indonesia economics professor was the driving force behind a vote-buying scheme to push her way into a top Bank Indonesia post.
Miranda allegedly asked graft convict Nunun Nurbaeti to disseminate traveler's checks to lawmakers who pledged their support, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutor Supardi said at the Anti-Corruption Court on Tuesday.
Miranda had previously asked Nunun to introduce her to lawmakers to discuss her 2004 bid for the position of deputy senior governor at Bank Indonesia, the prosecution alleged. The professor had tried, and failed, to earn the appointment in 2003.
"After the meeting was over, Nunun said that someone said 'this is not a thank you project'," Supardi said. "It meant that support for the defendant would result in compensation for the lawmakers who chose her during the fit and proper test."
Miranda is accused of masterminding a vote-buying scheme that placed 480 traveler's checks totaling Rp 24 billion ($2.52 million) in the hands of lawmakers willing to sell their support. Nunun, who funneled the funds to corrupt politicians, was convicted on corruption charges and sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail earlier this month.
During her trial, Nunun, the wife of former National Police deputy chief Adang Darodjatun, testified that Miranda approached her, asking to be introduced to members of the House of Representatives House Commission IX, which oversees banking and finance matters.
Nunun introduced Miranda to numerous House members, including: Endin J. Soefihara, Hamka Yandhu and Paskah Suzetta. Miranda later met with House Commission IX members from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) at the Dharmawangsa Hotel and with officers with the Indonesian military and police at her office in the Bank Niaga building, Supardi said.
"The defendant requested that, during the fit and proper test, military and police officers not ask about a personal issue that likely contributed to her failed attempt to be appointed a governor's position at BI in 2003," he said.
A day before the test, Nunun accepted 480 traveler's checks and instructed a staff member to deliver them to lawmakers who had promised to support Miranda's bid. "The gifts are allegedly related to the defendant's [Miranda] appointment as the deputy senior governor of Bank Indonesia," Supardi said.
More than 30 former and sitting lawmakers have been convicted of receiving the bribes. The defendant's legal team objected to the claims, saying that the indictment was incorrect.
"The indictment is not accurate. It is not clear and it is incomplete," Dodi Abdulkadir said. "The content does not provide details of the crime. The indictment said that Miranda asked to be introduced to lawmakers. Is it a crime to introduce someone? The prosecutor can not explain why introductions can be categorized as a crime."
Dodi explained that his client never attended the meetings with lawmakers and alleged that none of the recipients of the 480 checks ever pointed the finger at Miranda.
Miranda said the prosecution's indictment is based on false data. "The prosecutor made the indictment based on assumption only," she said.