Candidate retracts bribery statement

Candidate retracts bribery statement

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Failed gubernatorial candidate, Mahfudz Djailani, revoked on
Monday his earlier admission that he had paid Rp 200 million as a
down payment of a total Rp 2 billion promised to 40 city
councillors in order that they would elect him as the next
governor.

"I didn't directly give any money. But I don't know if my
sponsors had given any money," Mahfudz, a travel agent, told
reporters at his office on Jl. Tebet Raya, South Jakarta.

Disappointed with the result of the election, he claimed he
had spent more than Rp 200 million to lobby councillors in
several star-rated hotels, including Hotel Sahid, Grand Hyatt and
Santika, beginning two years ago.

He revealed that he continued to lobby several councillors,
including Nazamuddin and Sambudi Bakri of the National Mandate
Party (PAN) at Hotel Ibis in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on
Wednesday at 3 a.m. or just six hours before the election.

"PAN and other factions demanded a position of assistant to
the governor. I promised the positions to them," Mahfudz said.

He claimed that he had lobbied about 46 councillors for the
past two years, including eight councillors from the United
Development Party (PPP), seven councillors from PAN, 20
councillors from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan), three councillors from the National Awakening Party
(PKB), five councillors from the Indonesian Military/National
Police faction and one councillor each from the Unity Party, the
Unity and Diversity Party, as well as the Justice and Unity
Party.

Separately, a fruit trader in front of Mahfudz's office, was
told by Mahfudz's security guard, Wawan, that he accompanied
Mahfudz to withdraw about Rp 200 million from a bank just one day
before the election.

"Wawan told me and some friends here, that he accompanied
Mahfudz to withdraw about Rp 200 million," the fruit trader,
Dirman, told The Jakarta Post.

Mahfudz's statement on Monday was contrary to his earlier
admission made last Friday. He revealed that he had paid Rp 200
million as a down payment of a total Rp 2 billion he promised to
give if the councillors elected him.

"As a businessman I just want my money back. If not, I will
publicize their names," he told reporters.

It's still unclear whether his money has been returned or he
realized that he could be charged with defamation if he could not
prove his accusation.

Jakarta Police stated on Monday that they would summon Mahfudz
to clarify the alleged bribery in the election process.

The City Council's election committee would also summon
Mahfudz to confront the councillors, who allegedly received the
money, election committee Mohamad Suwardi said on Monday.

It is difficult to report a bribery case to the police since
the person who did it could be brought to court for defamation
and slander. This occurred last year when, a middleman, Endin
Wahyudin, reported an act of bribery which involved Supreme Court
justices. Endin was sentenced to three months probation for
defamation for his report.

Governor Sutiyoso, paired with city secretary Fauzi Bowo, was
reelected last Wednesday, securing 47 votes, while Mahfudz only
received three votes.

Other gubernatorial candidates in the election included Edy
Waluyo, Tarmidi Suhardjo, Marzuki Usman, Endang Darmawan and
Ahmad Heryawan.