KPK quiz Mulyana over bribery attempt

KPK quiz Mulyana over bribery attempt

Eva C. Komandjaja
The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

After seizing documents believed to have a connection with
corruption within the General Elections Commission (KPU), the
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) began on Wednesday its
prosecution of suspect Mulyana W. Kusumah in a bid to find solid
evidence of graft involving the commission.

Mulyana, a KPU member who was arrested by KPK investigators
last Friday for allegedly trying to bribe a state auditor, was
questioned for more than four hours. Questioning began at 1 p.m.

KPK deputy chief Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean said the
questioning centered on his knowledge about the 61 documents
confiscated by KPK investigators on Tuesday, Antara reported.

One of Mulyana's lawyers, Sirra Prayuna, told The Jakarta Post
it was the first time his client had been questioned since he was
declared a suspect on Saturday. Mulyana had undergone questioning
on two previous occasions.

"He (Mulyana) was given seven questions today. The questions
were related to the bribery attempt," Sirra said.

The lawyers have asked for their client to be released from
detention in Salemba prison, but the KPK has not responded to the
request.

KPK investigators claim that Mulyana, a noted criminologist
and human rights activist, was caught red-handed while allegedly
trying to bribe a Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) official responsible
for the auditing of KPU funds during a meeting in a West Jakarta
hotel.

Mulyana is believed to have brought Rp 150 million (US$15,800)
in cash and travelers checks to the meeting in an apparent effort
to persuade the auditor to conceal the misuse of KPU funds.

KPK said the money was a second payment to the BPK auditors,
with the total bribe amounting to Rp 300 million. KPK said it had
been investigating the case for one month.

Mulyana's daughter Gita Santiyana had previously said her
father did not have that much money, thus the bribe was thought
to have come from various sources including the KPU members' own
pockets.

Responding to the statement, KPU chief Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin
said all the money came from Mulyana.

Nazaruddin, who will receive an award as a distinguished
alumnus and honorary professor from Monash University in
Australia on Thursday, added that his position as commission head
was related to policy making, not bribes.

Besides Mulyana, KPK investigators are questioning KPU
treasurer Hamdani Amin.