Probe on JITF bribery continues<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Councillor Ugiek Soegihardjo return to work on Friday with a
\npledge to continue his investigation into alleged
\nirregularities at city-joint venture firm PT Jakarta
\nInternational Trade Fair (JITF).<\/p>\n
Ugiek of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) admitted that the party's city chapter chairman
\nTarmidi Suhardjo asked him to take a break after he revealed that
\nhe was offered a bribe of Rp 20 million (US$2,000) by the
\ncompany.<\/p>\n
\"But I was not pressured. Tarmidi asked me to take a break
\nsince I once had a liver complaint,\" he told reporters.<\/p>\n
He said that during his time off, he continued his
\ninvestigation and collected data about JITF run by businessman
\nEdward Surjadjaja.<\/p>\n
He urged the administration to cut cooperation with private
\nparties in JITF.<\/p>\n
\"The cooperation only caused losses to the city,\" said Ugiek,
\nwho is also a member of the council's special committee which is
\ninvestigating alleged irregularities in the company.<\/p>\n
Last month, Ugiek said the company offered him a bribe of Rp
\n20 million, in exchange for halting the investigation. Other
\ncommittee members, especially from PDI Perjuangan, allegedly
\nreceived a similar amount of money.<\/p>\n
Since Ugiek publicly revealed that he had been bribed, the
\ncouncillor has often been absent from the council's sessions. A
\nsenior councillor of PDI Perjuangan revealed that Ugiek was
\npressured to stay low by Tarmidi and the party's faction chairman
\nAgung Imam Sumanto. Both Tarmidi and Agung have denied it.<\/p>\n
The councillor was reportedly sick.<\/p>\n
Several reporters visited Ugiek's house on Jl. Jend. Sutoyo in
\nthe Cililitan area, East Jakarta earlier on Friday but were
\nunable to meet him.<\/p>\n
His neighbors said Ugiek drove his official car out of the
\nhouse every morning and returned in the evening. \"He looks
\nhealthy,\" a neighbor said.<\/p>\n
Edward had reported the councillor to the city police for
\nalleged defamation.<\/p>\n
However, Ugiek challenged the police to probe the alleged
\nbribery.<\/p>\n
\"I am still in possession of the money,\" he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/probe-on-jitf-bribery-continues-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }