KPK determined to uncover graft in KPU
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Responding to demands for a full inquiry after the arrest of a General Election Commission (KPU) official, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) seeks to uncover alleged graft practices within the commission.
Demands for an inquiry mounted following the arrest of Mulyana W. Kusumah for allegedly bribing a Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) official to guarantee positive audit results of trillions of rupiah in state funds managed by the KPU during the general elections last year.
KPK deputy chairman Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean has given his assurance that the commission would pursue its inquiry by investigating other KPU officials, including KPU chairman Nazaruddin Syamsuddin and Hamid Awaluddin, now minister of justice and human rights.
Nazaruddin himself, according to Mulyana, had ordered him to come to the prearranged meeting with the BPK auditor.
"Of course we will head that way, but we're now probing Mulyana's case. Further actions will be taken based on the investigation results," Panggabean said on Monday.
Mulyana's case is believed to be an indicator of more widespread corruption involving the KPU as has long been suspected by a number of non-governmental organizations. The BPK itself has just disclosed possible mismanagement of election funds worth Rp 90 billion (US$9,47 million) based on its ongoing audit.
Mulyana was in charge of procuring poll booths and boxes in last year's elections. Other KPU officials were Chusnul Mar'iyah, who was in charge of the provision of ballot papers and information technology equipment, Valina Singka Subekti in equipment distribution and ink, Hamid Awaluddin in voter cards, and Ramlan Surbakti in voter card validation.
Mulyana, former deputy chairman of the Election Supervisory Committee, was arrested on Friday in a hotel room where he was caught red-handed by KPK investigators paying Rp 150 million to a BPK auditor.
"We've been on this case for over a month. Mulyana met with a BPK auditor first on Sunday on April 3, where he gave Rp 150 million and agreed to a second meeting. BPK informed us and that's how we got wind of the second meeting," said Panggabean.
He said the BPK auditor had been wired in the second meeting and was now being questioned as a witness. Documentation of the arrest, he added, would be disclosed in court.
Mulyana has refuted all accusations, saying he had not brought any money to the meeting and it had already been there in the room.
Panggabean also could not confirm whether the KPK would impose a travel ban on other KPU officials or seek information from companies that supplied equipment for the elections.
BPK chairman Anwar Nasution confirmed that his agency and the KPK had been cooperating and exchanging information regarding the election fund audit, the report of which is being finalized and would be submitted to the House of Representatives soon.
Also on Monday, six KPK investigators led by Adi Derian visited the KPU office to search through documents in a determined bid to discover other evidence of corruption.
Mulyana will be charged with bribery under Law No. 31/1999 on corruption eradication and faces up to five years in prison and a Rp 250 million fine if proven guilty.