Whistle blower returns TI award<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Former state auditor Khairiansyah Salman returned on Thursday the
\nIntegrity Award he received from the Berlin-based Transparency
\nInternational (TI) after allegations surfaced that he was
\ninvolved in misappropriation of haj funds.<\/p>\n
\"He does not want to tarnish the award. Therefore, he decided
\nto return it,\" said Khairiansyah's lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis, who
\nis also the TI Indonesia executive director.<\/p>\n
Khairiansyah won the award after blowing open the bribery case
\ninvolving the General Elections Commission (KPU). That case, as
\nit turned out, was just the tip of the iceberg as the Corruption
\nEradication Commission discovered several more graft cases at the
\nKPU.<\/p>\n
Todung had said that the TI Indonesia was aware of
\nKhairiansyah's involvement in the haj fund scandal when it
\nnominated him for the award.<\/p>\n
State prosecutors named Khairiansyah a suspect on Tuesday for
\nallegedly receiving a payment of Rp 15 million (US$1,500) in 2003
\nby the treasurer of the Directorate General of Haj Affairs to
\ninfluence the audit report of the institution.<\/p>\n
Todung said that he and several other TI directors had met
\nKhairiansyah to discuss the matter.<\/p>\n
\"TI Indonesia still believes that Khairiansyah has a role in
\neradicating corruption. That was why we nominated him. But he
\nsaid he wanted to concentrate on this case,\" Todung said.<\/p>\n
The Integrity Award was first given in 2000 to individuals
\nwith persistence, courage and innovative achievement in combating
\ncorruption.<\/p>\n
Khairiansyah, who now works for the Aceh and Nias
\nRehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR), flew to Berlin on
\nNov. 11 to receive the award.<\/p>\n
Todung said that Khairiansyah would send a personal letter to
\nTI in Berlin to explain the case.<\/p>\n
\"TI Indonesia, however, has never urged him to return the
\naward. It's fully his act of responsibility to push for the
\ncorruption eradication movement in this country,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the BRR is considering the dismissal of
\nKhairiansyah as the anticorruption education manager.<\/p>\n
\"We're still thinking about whether we should replace him or
\nnot. His position is vital for this organization,\" said BRR
\ndeputy of communication affairs Sudirman Said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/whistle-blower-returns-ti-award-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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