Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – A financial watchdog has submitted data on more than 400 traveler's checks allegedly belonging to Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor Miranda Swaray Gultom as evidence in a bribery case implicating scores of legislators.
When asked for confirmation, Financial Transaction Reports Analysis Center (PPATK) chairman Yunus Hussein said Tuesday the checks, each of which had a value of Rp 50 million and was issued by a privately-owned bank, had been deposited in 2004.
"The data on some 400 traveler checks which have been cashed in has been submitted to the KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission). Just ask them (the KPK) about the progress (of the case)," he said in a short message.
The KPK began its investigations into the case after Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Agus Condro confessed to having received 10 traveler's checks worth total Rp 500 million after he had voted for Miranda to be BI senior deputy governor in 2004. Miranda denied the allegation, saying she did not know about the bribery.
Earlier on Tuesday, KPK chairman Antasari Azhar said he had asked the PPATK to help track down traveler's checks cashed in by Agus. "It's difficult but we are working on it," Antasari said.
Agus also publicly admitted that at least four of his PDI-P colleagues at the House's Commission IX had received the same amount of money from Dudhie Makmun Murod at the office of commission chief Emier Moeis.
Agus named the four as William Tutuarima, Budiningsih, Mateus Formes and Muhammad Iqbal. Dudhie and Emier are also PDI-P legislators. The PDI-P immediately denied Agus' allegation, and later fired the whistle blower from the House.
The dismissal prompted the House's Disciplinary Council to drop its plan to question Agus in connection with the bribery case. The PDI-P has also removed Agus Condro from its list of candidates for next year's legislative election.
Agus said he had used the money to buy two cars and an apartment in Jakarta. He said he was willing to surrender the assets to the KPK as evidence.
Agus is among 52 lawmakers named by Golkar lawmaker Hamka Yandhu as recipients of the BI funds disbursed in 2003 to help the House's Commission IX resolve cases on the alleged embezzlement of BI Liquidity Support funds and to endorse amendments to a BI law to give the central bank greater autonomy.
Hamka and fellow Golkar lawmaker Antony Zeidra Abidin are standing trial for the graft case, which also implicates, among others, former BI governor Burhanuddin Abdullah.