Novianti Setuningsih & Rizky Amelia – High-profile graft suspect Nunun Nurbaeti insists she facilitated the meeting between Miranda Goeltom and lawmakers in 2004 during her bid to secure the Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor position.
"I stand by my police investigation report. I never invited her, but Miranda asked me to help introduce and organize a meeting. But that wasn't my idea," Nunun told the Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court on Monday.
Nunun said Miranda also asked her to introduce her to her friends Endi Soefihara, Paskah Suzzeta and Hamka Yandhu. "Miranda met with the lawmakers and they had a discussion. But I didn't take part in the discussion. I didn't have any interest in it," she said.
Nunun admitted she overheard during the meeting that somebody said it wasn't a "thank you" project, meaning Miranda had to pay money, but claimed she didn't know who said it.
Last week, Nunun insisted that she facilitated the meeting. "I swear on the name of Allah that Ibu [Miranda] called me up and asked me to be introduced and to organize a meeting with the lawmakers at my place in Jalan Cipete Raya 39C. In the name of Allah, Ibu came and asked to be appointed as [senior deputy governor]," said Nunun, reacting to Miranda's testimony which refuted her claims.
Miranda admitted that she asked Nunun for support during her fit and proper test. "[The request for help] was not specific [to Nunun]. I asked all of those who congratulated me [for being nominated to the post] and lawmakers I knew in person to persuade them not to ask about my family," Miranda said.
She also admitted to meeting several lawmakers from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the Armed Forces (TNI) and National Police factions on the sidelines of the 2004 selection process, but she insisted it was to ask them to avoid personal inquiries during her fit and proper test.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) says it is trying to locate Indah Pramurti, the person believed to have picked up the traveler's checks from Bank Artha Graha and whose name was revealed by Nunun's driver last week. "We're trying to find out more about Indah and are going after her," KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto said on Monday.
Nunun has been charged with distributing Rp 20.85 billion ($2.3 million) in traveler's checks to politicians in a vote-buying scandal surrounding Miranda's election to the central bank in 2004. Miranda has also been named a suspect in the case.