Antigraft team raids Supreme Court
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators broke into the rooms of Chief Justice Bagir Manan and two other justices hearing the appeal case of businessman Probosutedjo on Thursday, seizing a number of documents.
The search occurred only almost one month after a bribe was allegedly offered to the justices in exchange for Probosutedjo's acquittal.
The 30-strong KPK team led by Ahmad Wiyagus entered the rooms of Bagir, justice Usman Karim and justice Parman Soeparman, who are sitting on the panel of judges dealing with Probosutedjo's appeal against his graft conviction.
They confiscated a number of documents, including the three justices' legal opinions on Probosutedjo's appeal case.
Gunanto Suryono, the deputy to the chief justice for supervision, said the investigators copied the legal opinions with the consent of Bagir, who is chairing the panel of justices handling the Probosutedjo case.
"The contents of the papers are confidential, but the chief justice allowed the investigators to read them because we want KPK to know that we are clean," said Gunanto.
The investigators also checked other rooms in the Supreme Court building, including that of court clerk Nurochmah.
Gunanto said Bagir was in his room while it was being searched.
"Pak Ketua (the chief justice) allowed investigators to check all documents and files and let them take anything they needed. We have no intention of blocking the KPK from conducting a thorough investigation into the case," Gunanto said.
Bagir, Gunanto added, also asked the lower courts hearing Probosutedjo's case "to be cooperative" with the KPK.
The alleged bribery came to fore when the KPK arrested Harini Wiyoso, a lawyer for former president Soeharto's half-brother Probosutedjo, when she was about to pay Rp 1 billion (US$100,000) to five Supreme Court officials at the end of October.
The officials allegedly asked for another Rp 5 billion for Bagir, through Probosutedjo's lawyer.
Probosutedjo has admitted to giving Harini Rp 6 billion in bribes meant for the chief justice and other court officials in order to win his appeal case. He said he also paid Rp 10 billion to Jakarta High Court judges and prosecutors.
The Central Jakarta District Court convicted Probosutedjo in 2003 of embezzling reforestation funds that cost the state over Rp 100 billion in losses. He was sentenced to four years in jail. The Jakarta High Court later halved that prison term.
Bagir, who has denied the bribery allegations, refused to comment on the investigators' search of his work room.
"Please, ask the KPK," he said on the sidelines of a breaking of the fast gathering at the State Palace, which was attended also by KPK chief Taufiqurrachman Ruki.
Ruki was also reluctant to give comment, saying he had not been informed about the results of the search.
The KPK on Wednesday confiscated US$400,000 and Rp 800 million from Harini, which Probosutedjo had given to her to pay the bribes.
The KPK's investigation into corruption involving the General Elections Commission also led to a search of the offices and houses of the poll body's chairman Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin and other officials in May. Following the search, Nazaruddin was arrested.