SP/Novianti Setuningsih & Rizky Amelia – Pork and rat meat were the focus of a discussion between former Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chairman Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq and the minister of agriculture, the graft suspect's lawyer said on Tuesday.
The Corruption Eradication Commission plans to question Agriculture Minister and PKS member Suswono about his relationship with Luthfi, a former party chairman charged with reportedly accepting Rp 1 billion ($103,000) in bribes from a beef import company.
Attorney M. Assegaf said that his client spoke with Suswono on a regular basis, but the conversations mainly focused on the party or on concerns over the spread of unsafe or non-Halal meat in Indonesia. They once spoke about the beef import quota, but only to compare information, the lawyer said.
"[They] once talked about holding a seminar or discussion related to the beef import quota," Assegaf said. "It was because the information received by Suswono from the [beef] business association was different [from the information Luthfi had]."
Luthfi and his aid were among those charged with reportedly attempting to rig Indonesia's beef import quota. Importer Indoguna Utama allegedly promised the former PKS chairman a kickback of Rp 5,000 per kilogram if they were awarded 50 percent of the new beef quota. The Rp 1 billion was allegedly a downpayment on that promise.
Although the KPK arrested four people in connection with cash-for-beef scandal, none of those charged have direct control over setting or awarding contracts to import beef. The Ministry of Agriculture is in charge of setting the nation's import quotas and awarding contracts to interested companies.
Assegaf denied there was any connection between the minister and the corruption case. "He [Luthfi] is not a lawmaker in the commission which corresponds with the Agriculture Ministry," Assegaf said.
The KPK questioned Syukur Iwantoro, the ministry's director general of livestock and animal health services, as a witness on Tuesday. The questions allegedly centered on Luthfi, Indoguna Utama executives and ministry officials. The commission will also question Luthfi and his assistant Ahmad Fathanah.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is seeking a full explanation from the agriculture minister regarding the graft allegations but the plan been sidelined for the moment. Julian Aldrin Pasha, a spokesman for the president, said Yudhoyono "will definitely call [Suswono] in. Just wait and see."
Suswono has not been named a suspect but the KPK is set to question Suswono as a witness. The KPK recently raided the Ministry of Agriculture's offices.