Whistle-blower to drop testimony against AG<\/p>\n
P.C. Naommy, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The investigation into alleged corruption involving Attorney
\nGeneral MA Rachman was dealt a large blow on Friday when a key
\nwitness said he would withdraw his testimony.<\/p>\n
Prosecution witness Kito Irkhamni, who gave the Public
\nServant's Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) the initial tip that
\nled to the investigation, submitted to the National Police on
\nFriday a statement refusing to be a witness and withdrawing his
\nearlier testimony that implicated the attorney general.<\/p>\n
\"I haven't got any witness protection from KPKPN, that's why I
\nwithdraw the evidence and refuse to testify in the case,\" Kito
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The KPKPN had failed give him witness protection support
\nduring his trial in which he was convicted of fraud involving Rp
\n480 million (US$56,470), he said.<\/p>\n
The South Jakarta District Court found Kito guilty of failing
\nto fulfill a Rp 480 million construction job on a house owned by
\nAti Mulyati in Puri Cinere, South Jakarta, after spending more
\nthan a year on the project.<\/p>\n
He was sentenced to one month and 23 days for the fraud, minus
\nthe detention period for the trial, which covered the same amount
\nof time.<\/p>\n
\"I agreed to give testimony in the MA Rachman case because the
\nKPKPN had promised to put me under its witness protection
\nprogram. But the reality was a big zero!\" said Kito.<\/p>\n
Before his trial, Kito had testified before the KPKPN on
\nRachman's alleged hidden wealth in the form of a luxury house in
\nDepok, West Java, estimated to be worth over Rp 5 billion.<\/p>\n
\"So, it isn't that I don't respect the KPKPN, but I will need
\nmore than just one day or a week of protection,\" said Kito in
\nresponse to a statement from KPKPN that it had provided him
\nprotection and assistance in facing several threats during his
\ntrial.<\/p>\n
Kito also complained about prolonged legal procedures for the
\ncase. He said the KPKPN should have urged the police to speed up
\nthe process so the case would not be \"contaminated\".<\/p>\n
Kito said the lengthy investigation into Rachman's case had
\nput him and his family in a difficult situation. \"I cannot do my
\njob and my business is stuck because of this matter,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Kito said if the police had been serious about investigating
\nthe case, it would have been easy to spare a day to meet with
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri and ask her for permission to
\nquestion the attorney general.<\/p>\n
\"The National Police chief is an assistant to the President
\nand should have direct access to her and ask for a permit to
\nquestion him. I'm sure it wouldn't take more than a day to do
\nthat,\" Kito said.<\/p>\n
KPKPN head of the Rahman investigation Petrus Selestinus told
\nThe Jakarta Post it was odd for Kito to withdraw testimony he had
\nalready given.<\/p>\n
\"It is strange if he plans to take back what he said during
\nthe examination. It's okay for him to do it, but he should do it
\naccording to the rules,\" Petrus said.<\/p>\n
People couldn't just hand in a letter to the police to
\nwithdraw testimony, he said. Kito should have gone to the KPKPN,
\ninformed them of which part of the testimony he wanted to
\nwithdraw and then compiled a new dossier.<\/p>\n
Petrus said the KPKPN would not be deaf to allegations against
\nRachman. However: \"If the police can't find enough evidence that
\ncan bring Rahman to court, then we will accept that,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Petrus said clarity in the case was needed, since Rahman had
\nthe right to legal assistance.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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