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KPK promises to name lawmakers involved in BI bribery case

Source
Jakarta Globe - February 11, 2010

Nivell Rayda – The Corruption Eradication Commission pledged on Wednesday to release the names of all the lawmakers who allegedly received a total of Rp 24 billion ($2.5 million) in bribe money linked to the appointment of a central bank deputy in 2004.

The commission, also known as the KPK, has so far declared four former and current members of the House of Representatives as suspects, three of whom are now in custody. The four are charged with violating Article 5 of the 1999 Law on Corruption, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The antigraft body suspects that the 41 lawmakers who voted economist Miranda Goeltom to the Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor position in 2004 received anywhere from Rp 200 million to Rp 1 billion each.

The KPK deputy for graft investigations and prosecution, Chandra M Hamzah, said the commission would disclose the names of those who allegedly received money during the trials of the four suspects.

Golkar Party's Hamka Yandhu, Endin AJ Soefihara, from the United Development Party (PPP), Udju Djuhaeri, who was a member of the Police and Military faction in the House, and Dhudie Makmun Murod, from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), are scheduled to stand trial by the end of this month.

"Just wait, all the names will be disclosed during the trials of the four suspects," Chandra said. He added that the four suspects would be tried together.

He said the commission was continuing to develop the case and that more people were likely to be charged. "If we have enough evidence, we will certainly bring whoever they are to justice," he said.

Indonesia Corruption Watch deputy Adnan Topan Husodo said the commission was likely to wait for further developments during the trial before naming more suspects.

"The KPK always starts with those who have the most incriminating evidence against them. This is a tactic they use," Adnan told the Jakarta Globe. "The KPK will be hoping for more vivid information from court testimony."

However, Adnan said the ICW would closely monitor the case to make sure the KPK made good on its promise to go after everyone involved. "The KPK should bring down all those who received bribe money and those who financed the bribes," he said.

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