KPK detains KPU member Rusadi<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detained on Monday
\nGeneral Elections Commission (KPU) member Rusadi Kantaprawira
\nafter naming him a suspect in a graft case at the election body.<\/p>\n
KPK deputy chairman Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean said Rusadi,
\na professor of constitutional law at Padjadjaran University, was
\naccused of causing up to Rp 36 billion (US$3.7 million) in state
\nlosses in the procurement of ink for last year's legislative
\nelections.<\/p>\n
\"The KPU procured the ink through a tender that violated
\nPresidential Decree No. 80\/2003,\" Tumpak said.<\/p>\n
The decree on the provision of goods for state institutions
\nrequires transparent tenders that are free from collusion and
\nnepotism.<\/p>\n
Rusadi now joins in detention four other KPU officials and
\nmembers who have also been named graft suspects -- chairman
\nNazaruddin Sjamsuddin, member Mulyana W. Kusumah, secretary-
\ngeneral Sussongko Suhardjo and treasurer Hamdani Amin.<\/p>\n
The change in Rusadi's status was announced by his lawyer M.
\nUtomo Karim earlier on Monday, while accompanying his client for
\na round of questioning by KPK investigators.<\/p>\n
\"KPK investigators showed me the document stating Rusadi's
\nstatus as a suspect when they picked him up for the questioning.
\nBut I do not know the charges yet,\" Utomo said.<\/p>\n
Asked about his status as a suspect, Rusadi simply said \"it is
\nthe consequence of my job\".<\/p>\n
The naming of Rusadi as a suspect could be connected to a
\ndecision handed down by the Commission for the Supervision of
\nBusiness Competition (KPPU), which found the state lost Rp 2.15
\nbillion from the ink procurement tender at the KPU as a result of
\ncollusion.<\/p>\n
This collusion, according to the KPPU, involved nine firms and
\ntwo KPU officials in charge of the ink procurement -- Rusadi and
\nKPU logistics bureau head R.M. Purba.<\/p>\n
The KPPU also found that four winning consortiums in the
\ntender paid a total of Rp 400 million to the KPU, allegedly as
\nkickbacks, and paid for trips to India for several KPU officials.<\/p>\n
Also at the KPK office, investigators submitted to prosecutors
\non Monday the case file on Nazaruddin, one day before his
\ndetention period was set to expire, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
Nazaruddin is accused of involvement in the collection of
\nkickbacks from procurement firms and alleged corruption in the
\nprovision of insurance for KPU officials.<\/p>\n
He has denied all accusations.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, witnesses testified as the trial of Mulyana, who is
\ncharged with bribery, continued on Monday.<\/p>\n
KPU employee Mubari said he, Mulyana, Sussongko and Purba were
\ndirectly involved in providing Rp 300 million to bribe state
\nauditor Khairiansyah Salman to influence the results of an audit
\nof the election body.<\/p>\n
Purba, who testified after Mubari, denied contributing any
\nmoney but said he was aware of the bribery plan.<\/p>\n
In his testimony, KPU treasurer Hamdani admitted to having
\nsubmitted four travel checks worth Rp 100 million to Mulyana at
\nthe order of Sussongko. Hamdani, however, said he did not know
\nthe purpose of the transfer, which took place on April 4 this
\nyear.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Sussongko called me and said 'Please give the money to
\nPak Mulyana now,'\" Hamdani said.<\/p>\n
There was no letter from KPU officials on the provision of the
\nfunds, Hamdani said, but added that he recorded the disbursement
\nof the money.<\/p>\n
The money came from \"contributions\" collected from companies
\nthat won tenders to provide election materials, according to
\nHamdani. He said he kept the contributions at the request from
\nthe KPU leadership.<\/p>\n
\"There was no signed receipt from Pak Mulyana after receiving
\nthe money, because we normally accepted contributions from the
\ncompanies without signing receipts. We did report the use of the
\nfunds to the KPU leadership,\" Hamdani told the court.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kpk-detains-kpu-member-rusadi-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}