KPK determined to uncover graft in KPU<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Responding to demands for a full inquiry after the arrest of a
\nGeneral Election Commission (KPU) official, the Corruption
\nEradication Commission (KPK) seeks to uncover alleged graft
\npractices within the commission.<\/p>\n
Demands for an inquiry mounted following the arrest of Mulyana
\nW. Kusumah for allegedly bribing a Supreme Audit Agency (BPK)
\nofficial to guarantee positive audit results of trillions of
\nrupiah in state funds managed by the KPU during the general
\nelections last year.<\/p>\n
KPK deputy chairman Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean has given his
\nassurance that the commission would pursue its inquiry by
\ninvestigating other KPU officials, including KPU chairman
\nNazaruddin Syamsuddin and Hamid Awaluddin, now minister of
\njustice and human rights.<\/p>\n
Nazaruddin himself, according to Mulyana, had ordered him to
\ncome to the prearranged meeting with the BPK auditor.<\/p>\n
\"Of course we will head that way, but we're now probing
\nMulyana's case. Further actions will be taken based on the
\ninvestigation results,\" Panggabean said on Monday.<\/p>\n
Mulyana's case is believed to be an indicator of more
\nwidespread corruption involving the KPU as has long been
\nsuspected by a number of non-governmental organizations. The BPK
\nitself has just disclosed possible mismanagement of election
\nfunds worth Rp 90 billion (US$9,47 million) based on its ongoing
\naudit.<\/p>\n
Mulyana was in charge of procuring poll booths and boxes in
\nlast year's elections. Other KPU officials were Chusnul Mar'iyah,
\nwho was in charge of the provision of ballot papers and
\ninformation technology equipment, Valina Singka Subekti in
\nequipment distribution and ink, Hamid Awaluddin in voter cards,
\nand Ramlan Surbakti in voter card validation.<\/p>\n
Mulyana, former deputy chairman of the Election Supervisory
\nCommittee, was arrested on Friday in a hotel room where he was
\ncaught red-handed by KPK investigators paying Rp 150 million to a
\nBPK auditor.<\/p>\n
\"We've been on this case for over a month. Mulyana met with a
\nBPK auditor first on Sunday on April 3, where he gave Rp 150
\nmillion and agreed to a second meeting. BPK informed us and
\nthat's how we got wind of the second meeting,\" said Panggabean.<\/p>\n
He said the BPK auditor had been wired in the second meeting
\nand was now being questioned as a witness. Documentation of the
\narrest, he added, would be disclosed in court.<\/p>\n
Mulyana has refuted all accusations, saying he had not brought
\nany money to the meeting and it had already been there in the
\nroom.<\/p>\n
Panggabean also could not confirm whether the KPK would impose
\na travel ban on other KPU officials or seek information from
\ncompanies that supplied equipment for the elections.<\/p>\n
BPK chairman Anwar Nasution confirmed that his agency and the
\nKPK had been cooperating and exchanging information regarding the
\nelection fund audit, the report of which is being finalized and
\nwould be submitted to the House of Representatives soon.<\/p>\n
Also on Monday, six KPK investigators led by Adi Derian
\nvisited the KPU office to search through documents in a
\ndetermined bid to discover other evidence of corruption.<\/p>\n
Mulyana will be charged with bribery under Law No. 31\/1999 on
\ncorruption eradication and faces up to five years in prison and a
\nRp 250 million fine if proven guilty.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kpk-determined-to-uncover-graft-in-kpu-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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