All KPU officials 'got kickbacks'<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Apparently not wanting to go down alone, General Elections
\nCommission (KPU) treasurer Hamdani Amin, who has recently been
\ndeclared a graft suspect, told investigators on Friday that all
\nthe KPU officials had received money from private companies,
\nwhich had won business tenders from the commission.<\/p>\n
Hamdani told reporters that all KPU members and several
\nstaffers had each received a portion of approximately Rp 20
\nbillion (US$2.10 million) given by the firms, ostensibly as
\nkickbacks for winning tenders to supply election materials.<\/p>\n
\"All KPU members received the money. Each received a portion
\nof the money according to their positions and duties,\" said
\nHamdani.<\/p>\n
His statement should boost the Corruption Eradication
\nCommission's (KPK) effort to crack open even wider the corruption
\ninside the KPU, which has been long alleged by the public, and
\nthus investigate all KPU members.<\/p>\n
Eleven KPU members were elected in 2001. Imam B. Prasodjo and
\nMudji Sutrisno resigned in 2003 due to conflicts of interest,
\nwhile Hamid Awaluddin was appointed Minister of Justice and Human
\nRights late last year.<\/p>\n
The current remaining members are chairman Nazaruddin
\nSjamsuddin, deputy Ramlan Surbakti, Mulyana W. Kusumah, Rusadi
\nKantaprawira, Daan Dimara, Chusnul Mar'iyah and Valina Singka
\nSubekti.<\/p>\n
Suspected corruption linking all KPU members has also been
\nalleged by the Supreme Audit Agency's (BPK) investigative audit
\nreport, which indicated misuse of over Rp 90 billion of some Rp
\n800 billion spent to procure materials for last year's
\nlegislative election.<\/p>\n
In the report, the BPK alleges a conspiracy to ensure that
\nparticular firms obtained tenders in return for kickbacks. The
\nallegation has also been authenticated by the Business
\nCompetition Supervisory Commission (KPPU), which said it had
\ndiscovered indications of unfairness in the selection of firms.<\/p>\n
A number of firms that won tenders are PT Survindo Indah
\nPrestasi, PT Tjakrindo Mas and CV Almas (for ballot boxes), PT
\nKertas Letjes and PT Temprina Media Grafika (ballot paper), PT
\nKertas Kraft Aceh (ballot envelopes), PT Elit Permai Metal Work
\n(polling booths), PT Integrasi Teknologi (information
\ntechnology), PT Pura Barutama (voter cards), and a number of
\nIndian firms (ink).<\/p>\n
KPU deputy Ramlan Surbakti refused to give a statement
\nregarding Hamdani's confession, saying that the KPU chairman
\nwould be the one to give any statements regarding KPU matters.<\/p>\n
\"We've all agreed that all statements will be made by the
\nchairman because he's responsible for the KPU inside and out,\"
\nRamlan said, adding that the KPU would be prepared to explain
\nitself to the House of Representatives on Monday.<\/p>\n
Nazaruddin did not answer a call by The Jakarta Post, but he
\nhas reportedly denied any knowledge about receiving any money
\nfrom anyone, including tender winners, on the procurement of
\nelection materials.<\/p>\n
Hamdani was named a suspect on Wednesday after the KPK
\ndiscovered evidence of him receiving money from winning firms,
\nand found US$150,000 cash in his safe at the KPU office.<\/p>\n
KPK deputy Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean said it was the Rp 20
\nbillion that turned out to be what the KPU called \"tactical
\nfunds\", which were partially used by KPU member Mulyana to bribe
\na BPK auditor to influence audit results.<\/p>\n
Mulyana, the first to be named as a suspect, said the bribery
\nhad been agreed upon by other KPU members. Another suspect in the
\ncorruption case is KPU secretary-general Sussongko Suhardjo, who
\nhas been accused of ordering the bribe to be paid and providing
\nthe bribe money.<\/p>",
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