Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said on Friday that Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh knew that some procedures had been violated in the purchase of a Russian-made Mi-2 helicopter in 2002.
KPK made the statement after it summoned Puteh as "one of the sources" in its preliminary investigation into the alleged markup by the Aceh administration.
KPK deputy chairman Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas, however, refused to go into detail, arguing that "the questioning of the governor has not touched on substantial matters because he (Puteh) did not bring supporting documents."
Puteh was questioned by KPK's investigating team led by former police officer Jaswardana for about four hours, starting at 8 a.m. He left the office at midday and immediately went to the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and flew to Aceh's provincial capital of Banda Aceh for "an important meeting on preparations for the imposition of civil emergency in the province". Erry said that Puteh promised to come to the KPK office on June 10, or three days after a national working meeting of Indonesian governors in Banda Aceh.
"During the four hours of questioning, we asked him about 13 questions with regards the governor's main tasks. However he did not bring documents to support his assertions," Erry told a press conference.
"We could understand his argument because he came to Jakarta not for the questioning, but to meet with officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs to prepare the planned national working meeting of all Indonesian governors," he added.
Earlier, KPK investigators also questioned speaker of the Aceh legislature Muhammad Yus and his deputies, T. Bachrum Manyak and Moersyid Minosra, as well as the Aceh administration's supply and procurement division head Syahruddin M. Gadeng and treasurer T.M. Lizam.
From the officials, Erry said, the KPK learned that at least 10 regents donated around Rp 700 million (US$72,916) to help the administration purchase the helicopter. Erry refused to name the regents, but confirmed that the funds were taken from regental budgets.
Meanwhile, two other officials, Aceh administration secretary Thantawi Ishak and the Aceh administration's logistics division head Khalid, will come to Jakarta for questioning on June 10. They did not meet a summons early this week, claiming they were ill.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri has appointed Puteh as the civil emergency administrator in Aceh, after one year of martial law to stamp out decades of rebellion there.
Puteh, nevertheless, is in the hot seat following an investigation by the Aceh Police in cooperation with the military into the corruption charges that involve billions of rupiah in government funds.
The alleged markup in the purchase of the helicopter caused some Rp 12 billion in state losses. Some are trying to link the case to Puteh.
Earlier on Wednesday, Puteh was also questioned at the National Police headquarters here over another corruption case related to the purchase of power generators worth Rp 30 billion.