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.