Ex-KPU official named graft suspect<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Former secretary-general of the General Elections Commission
\n(KPU) Safder Yusacc was named a suspect on Wednesday in relation
\nto the alleged markup of the cost of election guideline books
\nduring last year's polls.<\/p>\n
Safder was picked up from his house in Cempaka Putih, Central
\nJakarta, by investigators of the Corruption Eradication
\nCommission (KPK) for questioning before the latter declared him a
\nsuspect, his lawyer Soedjono was quoted as saying by Antara.<\/p>\n
He said that Safder, who arrived at the KPK office at around 4
\np.m., was accused of involvement in marking up the cost of
\npublishing election guideline books worth Rp 30 billion (US$3.16
\nmillion), which caused the state some Rp 17 billion in financial
\nlosses.<\/p>\n
He declined to provide details.<\/p>\n
KPK officials could not be reached for comment.<\/p>\n
During earlier questioning, Safder admitted that he personally
\nknew Cecep Harefa, who acted as middleman in the book publishing
\nproject, but said he did not hire the broker.<\/p>\n
The KPK has already declared Bambang Budiarto, head of the
\nbook project, the prime suspect in the case.<\/p>\n
The antigraft commission has been working hard to resolve the
\nhigh-profile graft case at the KPU, which organized the 2004
\ngeneral election and the country's first direct presidential
\nelection, which Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono won.<\/p>\n
The KPU graft case centers around alleged kickbacks paid to
\nKPU officials by private companies that won KPU contracts, the
\nmarking up of expenses in the purchase of election materials and
\nservices, and the bribery of auditors at the Supreme Audit Agency
\n(BPK), officials of the Ministry of Finance and lawmakers.<\/p>\n
Safder has also been accused of accepting kickbacks from
\nprivate companies, although reports earlier said he had returned
\npart of the US$30 billion he received.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Tuesday, the KPK declared Ministry of Finance
\nofficial Ishaq Harahap a suspect, the second suspect from the
\nministry. He is accused of accepting bribes from KPU officials in
\norder that the ministry approve a revised budget for the KPU,
\nwhose top officials had been implicated in the ongoing graft
\ncase.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ex-kpu-official-named-graft-suspect-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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