Kharishar Kahfi, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed that its investigators have found thumb-shaped stamps on thousands of envelopes confiscated from Golkar Party lawmaker Bowo Sidik Pangarso during an arrest related to an alleged corruption case.
"We found that most of the envelopes have a thumb-shaped stamp on them," KPK spokesperson Febri Diansyah said Thursday.
The antigraft body named Bowo a suspect in a case pertaining to shipping projects at the country's largest fertilizer company, PT Pupuk Indonesia Holding Company (PIHC).
Bowo, a member of House Commission VII overseeing energy and mineral resources, allegedly accepted Rp 8 billion (US$564,632) from a manager of private transportation company PT Humpuss Transportasi Kimia, which provides sea transportation for PT Pupuk Indonesia Logistik, a subsidiary of PIHC.
The KPK suspected that Bowo used the bribe to finance his campaign in the 2019 legislative election, as it was reportedly going to be used to buy votes a few hours before the polls opened on election day on April 17.
The money, comprising Rp 20,000 and Rp 50,000 denominations, was put inside thousands of envelopes. The graft busters seized dozens of boxes containing such envelopes upon arresting Bowo on March 27.
On Thursday, investigators had only gone through four boxes of envelopes. "We have opened 15,000 envelopes and discovered money totaling Rp 300 million," Febri said.
Aside from Bowo, the KPK also named two other suspects in the case: businessperson Indung for her alleged role as middlewoman, as well as PT Humpuss Transportasi Kimia marketing manager Asty Winasty, who is suspected of bribing Bowo. (iwa)