Legislator grilled over bribery<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Police questioned House of Representatives legislator Indira
\nDamayanti Sugondo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\non Wednesday as a witness in a bribery case allegedly involving
\nthe Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA).<\/p>\n
\"I came here in response to a police summons as a witness in a
\nbribery case linked to the divestment of Bank Niaga,\" Indira told
\nreporters before being questioned at National Police
\nHeadquarters.<\/p>\n
Indira was accompanied by her lawyer Bambang Widjojanto.<\/p>\n
She said that during her questioning she told the police that
\na number of envelops containing US$1,000 each were distributed to
\nHouse members by her party colleague, Dudhie Makmun Murod,
\nfollowing a meeting between the House banking committee and
\nsenior officials of the bank restructuring agency.<\/p>\n
\"But, I returned it (her envelope),\" Indira said.<\/p>\n
Suspicions of bribery surfaced following Indira's statement to
\nthe media that she was offered the money. Four other legislators,
\nMeilono Suwondo, Engelina Pattiasina, Habil Marati and Daniel
\nBudi Setiawan confirmed Indira's account.<\/p>\n
\"I don't know whether the other legislators who received the
\nmoney returned it,\" said Indira.<\/p>\n
However, Indira brushed aside allegations that the money was
\nlinked to the divestment of a 51 percent stake in Bank Niaga,
\nwhich was then being discussed by the House banking committee.<\/p>\n
Indira remarked that a number of state institutions gave money
\nto legislators following hearings in the House.<\/p>\n
\"Most of the money is given in cash,\" Indira said.<\/p>\n
Indira tendered her resignation as a legislator after her
\nfaction failed in May to support a motion to set up a special
\ncommittee of inquiry into the alleged role of House speaker Akbar
\nTandjung in corruption involving the State Logistics Agency when
\nhe was the state secretary\/minister in 1999. PDI Perjuangan
\nchairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri has not responded to Indira's
\nmove.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/legislator-grilled-over-bribery-1447893297",
"image": ""
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