PDI-P to look into alleged bribery case<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) is to investigate an alleged bribery case involving
\nthe party's outspoken legislator, Aberson Marle Sihaloho, an
\nexecutive of the party said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Karl Lukas Degey, the deputy chairman of PDI Perjuangan, said
\nthe party decided in a meeting on Tuesday to thoroughly
\ninvestigate the case, which could tarnish the party's image.<\/p>\n
\"The party's executive board will seek clarification from
\nAberson on the case. Stern sanctions will be taken against him if
\nhe is found guilty of receiving a travel cheque from Anshari
\nRitonga, director general of the state budget at the Ministry of
\nFinance,\" he told The Jakarta Post by telephone.<\/p>\n
He said a clarification was needed to maintain the presumption
\nof innocence.<\/p>\n
The case rose to the surface on Monday when Sandi, a cleaning
\nservice worker at the House, found a travel cheque on Wednesday
\nworth Rp 10 million (US$1,063) on the 8th floor, which is
\noccupied by legislators from the PDI Perjuangan faction. The
\ncheque was reportedly put in an envelope from Anshari Ritonga.<\/p>\n
With the help of Totok, an employee of the PDI Perjuangan
\nfaction, Sandi reported his finding to Elly, Anshari's secretary,
\nand gained confirmation that the travel cheque was earmarked for
\nAberson.<\/p>\n
Aberson, a member of the House budget commission, which is
\ndeliberating the 2002 draft budget, denied having received the
\ncheque from Anshari.<\/p>\n
\"Our commission, including me, has never received any gift
\nfrom the government in conducting its tasks, including the
\ndeliberation of the draft budget,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asked about his comments on the finding and Elly's
\nconfirmation, Aberson conceded that Sandi met him last Friday to
\nhand over the cheque but he rejected it and asked Sandi with the
\nhelp of his driver to return it to Anshari.<\/p>\n
\"As a reward for Sandy's honesty, I awarded him Rp 200,000,\"
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
Aberson, known as being vocal against the government's
\npolicies, denied the possibility that the case might be
\nengineered by somebody to discredit him. \"It is impossible that
\nmy colleagues engineered such a case,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He admitted it had made him very uneasy and he wanted the case
\nto be investigated thoroughly so as not to tarnish not only his
\nreputation but also the image of PDI Perjuangan and of the House.<\/p>\n
Hadiyanto, the finance ministry's spokesman, said in a
\nstatement on Monday evening that not a single official at the
\nministry ever handed over gifts in any form to House members.<\/p>\n
Denny J.A., a political observer and coordinator of the
\nlegislature watch forum on private TV station Metro TV, said that
\nif it proved to be true, the case reflected the House's poor
\nimage.<\/p>\n
\"Legislators must bear in mind that they toppled former
\npresident Abdurrahman Wahid for corruption cases,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He called on the media and nongovernmental organizations to
\ncontinue investigating the case to know whether all 50 members of
\nthe budget commission gained similar travel cheques from the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged it was difficult to avoid collusive practices
\nand the use of money politics in the House because of the absence
\nof a code of ethics for legislators and the phasing-out of the
\nrecalling institution. (rms)<\/p>",
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