Irawaty Wardany, Jakarta – Three former House of Representatives legislators admitted Wednesday they received Bank Indonesia money in exchange for aiding the settlement of BI liquidity support (BLBI) graft cases and the passage of an amendment to the BI law in 2003.
Agus Condro Prayitno, Amru Al Mutasyim and Ali As'ad testified at the Corruption Court against their former colleagues on the House's Commission IX overseeing financial and banking issues Hamka Yandhu and Anthony Zeidra Abidin, who are standing trial for their role in the graft case.
Amru and Ali said they had received Rp 300 million (US$27,270) and Rp 100 million from Hamka, respectively. "I received the money in two installments; The first was Rp 100 million and then Rp 200 million in the second installment," Amru said without mentioning a date.
He said Hamka had given him the money on behalf of Anthony for disbursing information about the BI law amendment to the public.
Ali said he had received the money as a donation for his campaign in the 2004 legislative election.
"Hamka said it was for the campaign fund. I received a total of Rp 100 million in three installments," Ali said. Both said there had been no receipts for the payments.
Earlier Agus told the court he had received Rp 25 million in five traveler's check from Hamka via his secretary between July and August 2003.
"It was kind of a welcome gift," Agus said, quoting his fellow Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) legislator the late Sukono, who had notified him that he would receive the money.
Agus had recently been reassigned after serving on House Commission VII overseeing manpower and transmigration.
Agus said he spent the money because Sukono had told him it was legal. "I did not know the money had something to do with the BLBI settlement or the amendment to the BI law until the media reported that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was investigating the case in 2007," he said.
He said he had no receipt for the traveler's checks. He also said legislators considered such payments part of their salaries.
However, Hamka rejected Agus' statements, saying he had handed over the money to PDI-P faction head Dudi Makmun Murod.
Hamka and Anthony have said they distributed Rp 31.5 billion in BI funds to 52 members of Commission XI, including Rp 1 billion to Paskah Suzetta, now National Development Planning minister, and Rp 300 million to Malam Sambat Kaban, now forestry minister. The two ministers have denied the allegations.
Former BI governor Burhanudin Abdullah was sentenced to five years in jail for his role in the case, while two former senior BI officials, Oey Hoey Tiong and Rusli Simanjuntak, are standing trial for their parts.
In another trial Wednesday, KPK prosecutors rejected the defense pleas of Oey and Rusli.
One of the prosecutors, Nur Chusniah, told the court the two defendants were behind the embezzlement of Rp 100 billion from BI funds. The defendants have claimed they disbursed and used the money at the request of the then BI board of governors.
According to the 1999 BI Law, the central bank is tasked with determining and implementing monetary policies, regulating and enforcing payment systems and regulating and monitoring the operations of other banks.
"So it is unreasonable for the defendants and their lawyers to say they did know about it and that they were only following orders," Nur said.