Novianti Setuningsih, Jakarta – Former Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum on Friday was formally charged with corruption and money laundering connected to the Hambalang graft case. The charges could carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

The Bogor, West Java sports center project had originally been conceived as single-year undertaking worth Rp 300 billion ($25.8 billion), but was later revised to a multi-year one costing Rp 2.5 trillion.

The Corruption Eradication Commission detained Anas on Jan. 10, alleging that he took bribes from contractors attached to the project. The sports minister at the time, Andi Mallarangeng, also from the Democratic Party, is currently standing trial for graft.

"The defendant wanted to become the Indonesian president and needed a political vehicle, and that is why he joined the Democratic Party," prosecutor Yudi Kristiadi said at an indictment hearing at the Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court on Friday.

"The defendent allegedly received [cars and the funds] in his capacity as a lawmaker to smooth out the Hambalang project and other projects in the Sports Ministry and the Education Ministry."

Prosecutors said he received millions of dollars in cash and two cars, a Toyota Harrier and a Toyota Vellfire, as bribes.

Anas was a commissioner at the General Election Commission (KPU) in 2004, before joining the Democratic Party. In the House of Representatives, he sat on Commission X, which oversaw sports and youth affairs.

In 2010, he was tapped to lead his party. He resigned from the legislature to focus on the chairmanship. As chairman, he allegedly asked subordinates to gather bribes.

Anas said he would fight the charges. "Allow me to submit an appeal," he said.

He also denied that he has been planning to use the money to run for president. "They said that I had been collecting money to run for the presidency in 2005," he said. "Just one word: 'Imaginary.'"

Presiding judge Haswandi set the trial to continue on Friday, June 6.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/anas-charged-corruption-money-laundering/