KPK determined to uncover graft in KPU

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.