Antigraft team raids Supreme Court
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.