Nivell Rayda – Detained businessman Anggodo Widjojo has demanded the Corruption Eradication Commission also name a middleman as a suspect in an attempt to undermine the antigraft body, his lawyer said on Wednesday.
Anggodo's lawyer, Bonaran Situmeang, said the commission, also known as the KPK, should name Ary Muladi as a suspect for attempted bribery and obstruction of justice.
Ary reportedly told Anggodo that he could stop a KPK investigation into Anggodo's brother, Anggoro Widjojo. Anggodo in return claims to have channeled Rp 5.1 billion ($550,000) to Ary, money he alleges Ary stole.
Ary later told the commission and National Police investigators that the money never went to KPK officials but was instead passed on to another middleman, whom he identified as Yulianto. Authorities have been unable to determine Yulianto's real identify or whereabouts.
"Ary Muladi played a key role in the bribery," Bonaran said. "[He] should also be named as a suspect."
The commission on Wednesday questioned Anggodo in relation to the charges against him. Anggodo became the center of public controversy last year after the KPK released 67 wiretapped phone conversations between him and several law enforcement officials allegedly involved in an attempt to frame two KPK deputies.
Anggodo endured more than five hours of questioning on Wednesday before being returned to Cipinang Penitentiary.
The KPK on Wednesday also questioned Eddy Sumarsono, chief editor of news tabloid Investigasi. Eddy supposedly facilitated a meeting between Anggodo and a former deputy attorney general, Wisnu Subroto, in the alleged attempt to fabricate a case against the commissioners.
Eddy is also said to have arranged a meeting with former KPK chairman Antasari Azhar after Anggodo spoke of the possibility of bribing him. Antasari is now on trial in an unrelated murder case and faces the death penalty.
It was while Antasari was under arrest that he told police of Anggodo's claims that members of the KPK had accepted bribes. The allegations were never proven and the Attorney General's Office later dropped the case.
Muladi's lawyer, Suhadi, said that his client believed the KPK should be able to located Yulianto. The lawyer rejected claims that Yulianto was fictitious, saying Muladi was involved in several businesses with him.