Jakarta – The Corruption Court questioned Monday whether there could be a larger conspiracy involving the Attorney General's Office (AGO) in the alleged bribe paid by businesswoman Artalyta Suryani to state prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan.
Judge Andi Bachtiar read out the transcript of a telephone conversation, recorded on March 1, 2008, between Artalyta and an unidentified woman, who was in Singapore.
In the conversation, Artalyta tells the woman about the result of the AGO's investigation into the embezzlement of Bank Indonesia liquidity support (BLBI) funds.
She also asks the woman about a "shortage for the subordinates, JAMs, Ses-JAMs and Udji, I haven't distributed anything to them". At the other end, the woman approved the request.
"JAM" is the AGO abbreviation for jaksa agung muda (deputy attorney general) and "Ses-JAM" is short for secretary to the deputy attorney general. Udji refers to Untung Udji Santoso, the then deputy attorney general for state administrative affairs.
Artalyta is charged with allegedly giving US$660,000 and Rp 100 million (US$10,810) in bribes to Urip, who led the BLBI investigation that implicated tycoon Sjamsul Nursalim. A day before the recorded conversation took place, the AGO had dropped its investigation, citing a lack of evidence.
Artalyta is believed to have a close relationship with Sjamsul's family. However, she denied the other woman in the conversation was Itjih Nursalim, Sjamsul's wife, and said the money she gave Urip was not from the woman.
"I don't need to mention the woman's name, but she is my business partner. The money I gave Urip was mine," Artalyta said.
In previous trial sessions, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors said Artalyta had planned a meeting between Urip and Itjih on Dec. 6, 2007.
According to the conversation recorded that day, Artalyta told Urip to "offer her help for the case... and say that this is a good chance".
Artalyta admitted the plan but said the meeting never took place because Itjih had other things to do. Artalyta insisted the money she gave was a personal loan for Urip to start an auto repair business. The judges were not convinced.
"In the 35 meetings and conversations that the defendant and Urip had between Dec. 5, 2007, and Feb. 29, 2008, as recorded by the KPK, there is not a single one talking about a loan," presiding judge Mansyurdin Chaniago said. "Just tell the truth, because none of the defendant's statements made sense," he added.
At previous hearings, the prosecutors revealed links between Artalyta and senior AGO officials in the bribery case, including former AGO deputy attorney general for special crimes Kemas Yahya Rahman and former director of special criminal investigations Muhammad Salim.
Both former officials separately admitted to meeting Artalyta at the AGO building in relation to the AGO investigation into Sjamsul.
Earlier this month, Untung resigned from the AGO after he was dismissed from his position as deputy attorney general for state administrative affairs over his alleged role in the bribery scandal.
Untung was one of several high-profile state officials whom Artalyta called before she was arrested by the KPK on the evening of March 2, 2008. She called them to ask for help by intervening and preventing the arrest.
The trial was adjourned until next Monday when the court is scheduled to hear the prosecutors' demands. (dre)