Company executives implicate KPU chief<\/p>\n
Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Six executives of an insurance company testified here on Thursday
\nagainst General Elections Commission (KPU) chief Nazaruddin
\nSyamsuddin in his graft trial at the Anticorruption Court.<\/p>\n
They confirmed that their company, PT Bumi Putra Muda 1967
\n(Bumida), was party to a business deal worth Rp 14.8 billion
\n(US$1.48 million) with the commission without any public tender
\nto win the project, but had to reduce its value by 34 percent.<\/p>\n
\"Bumida was appointed to provide an occupational accident
\nscheme worth Rp 14.8 billion for 5.7 million election workers
\nduring the 2004 general elections. The company was appointed not
\nthrough public bidding but directly,\" the company's director of
\nmarketing and technical affairs Julian Noor told the court.<\/p>\n
He and his five colleagues are among 56 witnesses scheduled to
\ntestify in Nazaruddin's trial on charges of corruption and power
\nabuse over the insurance project and the collection of kickbacks
\nfrom companies that supplied electoral materials to the KPU.<\/p>\n
Julian said the direct appointment of Bumida to handle the
\ninsurance project was based on a memorandum of understanding
\nsigned by Nazaruddin and Bumida president director Achmad Fauzi
\nDarwis.<\/p>\n
Julian also confirmed that his company returned 34 percent, or
\nRp 5 billion, of the total premium at the request of KPU
\ntreasurer Hamdani Amin through Bumida agent Mualim Muslih.<\/p>\n
\"The amount was in line with the KPU's request, but I knew
\nabout the reduction from Mualim's note to the management,\" he
\nsaid, adding that had not sought any confirmation from the
\nelections commission because he was confident in Mualim's
\ncredibility and professionalism.<\/p>\n
Julian said Hamdani had asked for the reduction through Mualim
\nby telephone on July 7 last year, and the latter had handed over
\nto Hamdani funds of more than Rp 5 billion a week later.<\/p>\n
\"But, so far, we have not yet obtained a receipt for the funds
\n(from the KPU),\" he said.<\/p>\n
Bumida president Achmad Fauzi Darwis confirmed Julian's
\nstatements, but denied making direct contact with KPU officials
\nor staff in the insurance deal.<\/p>\n
\"We rely on Pak Mualim Muslih and Sri Aryanti in arranging the
\nscheme. The two are credible agents and it would not be ethical
\nfor us to engage in direct communications with our clients,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Bumida's finance division head Nurhayati gave a similar
\ntestimony at the trial, saying the project was effective for five
\nmonths from June through October 2004, covering more than 5.7
\nmillion KPU members and election workers nationwide.<\/p>\n
In response, Nazaruddin made no objection to the six
\nwitnesses' testimonies.<\/p>\n
The panel of judges adjourned the trial, which was attended by
\nNazaruddin's wife Nurnida, daughter Amalia and KPU member Chusnul
\nMariyah, until next week to hear statements from other witnesses.<\/p>\n
In a previous court hearing, KPU secretary-general Sussongko
\nSuhardjo admitted that the Rp 5 billion, collected as a kickback
\nfrom the insurance company, had been distributed to all KPU
\nmembers, including Nazaruddin and his deputy Ramlan Surbakti and
\ncurrent justice minister Hamid Awaluddin.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors have demanded that Sussongko be sentenced to three
\nyears' imprisonment and fined Rp 50 million in the same
\ncorruption case.<\/p>",
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