Whistle-blower wins TI award<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Berlin-based Transparency International has named former
\nState Audit Agency (BPK) auditor Khairiansyah Salman as one of
\nthe winners of its Integrity Awards for 2005 for his part in
\nexposing corruption cases in the General Elections Commission
\n(KPU).<\/p>\n
Khairiansyah, the first Indonesian to win the prestigious
\naward, joins Senegalese journalist Abdou Latif Coulibaly and
\nIsrael's Movement for Quality Government as recipients. The
\npresentation of the awards will take place in Berlin on Friday.
\n Transparency International said in its website that
\nKhairiansyah \"has shown that one whistleblower can tackle
\ncorruption. He is a role model for millions of Indonesians.\"
\n The organization acknowledged that Khairiansyah faced
\nchallenges following his decision to disclose the bribery case:
\nhe \"angered the head of the BPK (Anwar Nasution) and was accused
\nof violating the code of conduct.<\/p>\n
\"He was then openly accused in the media of entrapping the KPU
\nmember to bribe him,\" the website said.<\/p>\n
Acting on a tipoff from Khairiansyah, KPK investigators
\narrested KPK member Mulyana W. Kusumah, who was caught red-handed
\nin April attempting bribery aimed at influencing the result of an
\naudit of the poll body. Three KPU members and other officials
\nhave been prosecuted, some of whom have been jailed.
\n Todung Mulya Lubis, the chairman of Transparency International
\nIndonesia, which nominated Khairiansyah for the award, said the
\norganization was aware of reports that Khairiansyah received
\nkickbacks from the Ministry of Religious Affairs in connection
\nwith a graft case involving former minister Said Agil Husein Al
\nMunawar.
\n In their indictment, prosecutors said the ministry, with the
\nknowledge of Said Agil, paid a sum of money to a BPK team of
\nauditors, including Khairiansyah, to cover up the budget
\nmisappropriation.
\n \"It is not proven yet,\" Todung told a press conference.<\/p>\n
Transparency International Indonesia's supervisory board
\nchairman Arief T. Surawidjojo hoped the award would encourage
\nother government officials and auditors to disclose possible
\ncorruption cases in government offices to the public.
\n \"There are many internal (government offices') reports of
\npossible graft cases, but they are ignored,\" he said.
\n Through a video conference facility, Khairiansyah declined to
\ncomment on the award. \"I worked in a system that forced me to
\nleave,\" he said.
\n Khairiansyah, who is protected under the Corruption
\nEradication Commission's witness protection scheme, is now
\nworking with the Aceh and Nias Reconstruction and Rehabilitation
\nAgency (BRR).<\/p>\n
Transparency International has ranked Indonesia among the most
\ncorrupt countries in the world for the past few years.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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