Nazaruddin also took kickbacks: Witness<\/p>\n
Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
General Elections Commission (KPU) treasurer Hamdani Amin
\ntestified on Wednesday against KPU chairman Nazaruddin
\nSyamsuddin, saying the latter accepted US$602,965 in kickbacks
\nfrom two firms that supplied the commissions with poll materials.<\/p>\n
\"I got cash from KPU's supplying companies through Mr.
\nChairman (Nazaruddin),\" he told the trial of Nazaruddin at the
\nAnticorruption Court in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Hamdani, who has also been charged in the same case, said he
\nwas given through Nazaruddin $170,000 from PT Pura on Jan. 23,
\n2004 and $432,965 from PT Leces.<\/p>\n
\"I received the funds in four phases and each time he
\n(Nazaruddin) handed over the funds, he always mentioned the
\nsource,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Hamdani claimed that all nine KPU members, including the
\ndefendant, enjoyed the kickbacks, either in American dollars or
\nrupiah.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Ketua (Mr. Chairman) got a total of $160,000. I myself
\nhanded over the money (out of the $602,965),\" he said.<\/p>\n
The witness explained that Nazaruddin received $20,000 in
\nJanuary 2004, $35,000 in April, $30,000 in June, $45,000 in
\nAugust and $30,000 in September 2004, as well as Rp 14 million
\n($1,400).<\/p>\n
He said other KPU members received $105,000 each, while KPU
\nsecretary-general Sussongko Suhardjo got $45,000 and his deputy
\nM. Dentjik $30,000.<\/p>\n
Hamdani also accused KPU member Rusadi Kantaprawira, charged
\nwith corruption in the procurement of ink, of similarly
\ncollecting funds from a company that provided ink for the polls.<\/p>\n
Hamdani confirmed that at least two legislators also accepted
\nkickbacks but he denied ever naming them.<\/p>\n
Dentjik earlier reportedly identified the two lawmakers as
\nSayuti Rachwarin and Abdur Rachman, both former members of House
\nof Representatives Commission II on home affairs, and said they
\neach got Rp 40 million.<\/p>\n
Asked by the panel of judges, chaired by Kresna Menon, how the
\ncollection of kickbacks was initiated, Hamdani said it was
\ndiscussed at an informal KPU meeting in October 2003.<\/p>\n
The meeting, the witness added, was attended by Nazaruddin,
\nKPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti, two other members Daan
\nDimara and Rusadi and former KPU secretary-general Safder Yussac.<\/p>\n
It was apparently decided at the meeting to collect funds from
\ncompanies supplying the KPU to help improve the welfare of
\ncommission members and staff.<\/p>\n
\"In conclusion, the meeting tasked me with collecting the
\nfunds as kickbacks. And in November 2003, the KPU chairman told
\nme to hold onto the funds,\" Hamdani said.<\/p>\n
In response, Nazaruddin rejected most of Hamdani's testimony,
\nsaying he never gave any cash to the witness.<\/p>\n
\"I never handed the witness any money from PT Pura or PT
\nLeces. Nor did I ever instruct him to hold onto the funds,\"
\nNazaruddin told the court.<\/p>\n
He admitted receiving $45,000, not the $160,000 mentioned by
\nHamdani.<\/p>\n
The high-profile graft case was revealed following the arrest
\nof KPU member Mulyana Wira Kusumah for trying to bribe a state
\nauditor who was inspecting the commission's financial report.<\/p>\n
Mulyana was recently sentenced two years and seven months in
\nprison for bribery.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nazaruddin-also-took-kickbacks-witness-1447893297",
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