House to summon KPU over graft case

House to summon KPU over graft case

Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The House of Representatives is scheduled to summon the members
of General Elections Commission (KPU) next Monday to hear the
latter's clarification over an investigative audit indicating
massive corruption in the commission.

The KPU is under the spotlight after a Supreme Audit Agency
(BPK) audit revealed suspected irregularities totaling more than
Rp 90 billion (US$9.47 million) in state funds the KPU spent on
procuring materials for the legislative election in April last
year.

The decision for the hearing by Commission II for home
affairs, however, drew conflicting opinions, including from
fellow House members on the commission as well as Commission III
for legal affairs, who said that such a hearing would only slow
down the legal process.

A number of civil organizations and legislators have, on the
other hand, accused unspecific House members of taking part in
the alleged corruption at the KPU, whose legislative partner is
Commission II.

One Commission II legislator said during an internal meeting
on Tuesday that some legislators who had also served during the
previous term had insisted on conducting an internal inquiry,
while "newer" legislators -- elected in September last year --
wanted the BPK report to be quickly shared with the Corruption
Eradication Commission (KPK), whose investigation into the
corruption case has been deemed laggard.

"We'll summon the KPU on May 9, and we'll be quick with this
inquiry, even briefer than the two-week time frame given by the
House leaders. The hearing will be open to the public,"
Commission II chairman Ferry Mursyidan Baldan said.

KPU chairman Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin said the KPU would be ready
to submit a clarification report in the next two days.

Ferry said the commission would ask the KPU to clarify
particular points in the BPK report that focus on the provision
of ballot boxes, ballot papers, ink, ballot envelopes and
information and technology infrastructure.

"The hearing is essential to learn the KPU's side because the
BPK report doesn't contain a proportional response from the KPU.
We will draft our recommendations after the hearing," Ferry said,
but failed to elaborate.

He added that the House would later submit the BPK report, the
KPU clarification and the commission's recommendations to the
KPK.

Ferry also denied there was any plan to replace KPU members,
saying that any proposal to do so would come first from the
government.

"If there was a plan to replace any member, it would be to
replace Hamid Awaluddin, who was elected (justice) minister last
year. But we haven't received any proposal for that," he
explained.

Meanwhile, the KPK questioned again on Tuesday Nazaruddin and
KPU secretariat staffer Mubari.

However, the questioning still mostly revolved around a
bribery case involving member Mulyana W. Kusumah, who was
reportedly caught trying to bribe a BPK auditor, and deputy
secretary-general Sussongko Suhardjo, who has been accused of
instructing that a bribe be offered and providing the money for
it.

Nazaruddin said the KPK investigators also touched upon his
role in the provision of election material tenders.

"Of course, I know everything about the tenders because I'm
the chairman and attended all KPU plenary meetings where tender
committees reported their activities," he was quoted as saying by
Antara.