KPK seeks to quiz Puteh on graft cases
KPK seeks to quiz Puteh on graft cases
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam
The newly formed national anticorruption body is seeking to
question Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Governor Abdullah Puteh for his
alleged role in graft cases as local authorities have been wholly
unable to summon him.
"We are here to find out what is hampering the local law
enforcers (in questioning the governor), while the evidence
appears to be more than sufficient," Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK) head Taufieqqurrahman Ruki said on Tuesday.
He was speaking to journalists after a meeting with martial
law leaders, ulemas, community figures and non-governmental
organization activists at the Iskandar Muda military headquarters
in Banda Aceh.
His visit was aimed at gathering data and information on
rampant cases of corruption that allegedly involve Puteh.
Taufieqqurrahman said the KPK would directly take over the
questioning of the Aceh governor if the martial law authorities
were unable to summon him.
Sources at the military headquarters told The Jakarta Post
that the martial law administration was seeking permission from
President Megawati Soekarnoputri to grill Puteh, but that she had
not responded.
Taufieqqurrahman said his commission would push Megawati to
grant permission to the Aceh authorities or that the KPK would
directly summon and question the governor.
The KPK has the authority to summon alleged corrupters without
necessarily asking for presidential permission, he added.
During Tuesday's meeting, the participants demanded that the
martial law administration immediately begin a corruption probe.
Local sociologist Ahmad Humam Hamid said during the meeting
that corruption in Aceh was completely out of control and was a
bigger problem than the armed separatist rebels. "During the
2002-2004 period, some Rp 20 trillion (US$2.3 billion) has been
channeled to Aceh, but the use of the funds is not clear."
Corruption is more dangerous in Aceh than the separatist
movement (GAM) that has been fighting for independence since
1970s, he added.
"If corruption cases cannot be resolved, Aceh is prepared to
break away from the Republic of Indonesia." Humam said.
Puteh announced publicly last week in Banda Aceh that he was
ready to face a corruption investigation, but little has been
done since.
Rumors had spread that the local authorities would summon the
governor after they were investigating his administration's
finance bureau head, TM Lizam, for the latter's alleged
involvement in the misuse of Rp 30 billion for electricity
equipment.
Based on a report obtained by the Post, the Aceh Prosecutor's
Office was investigating Puteh's alleged roles in three
corruption cases including the purchase of a Russian-made MI-2
helicopter.
"The Aceh administration has allegedly marked up the
helicopter's price from Rp 6.1 billion to Rp 12.6 billion," the
report said.
It also stated that the governor allegedly bribed 53 Aceh
councillors with Rp 75 million each to endorse the purchase of
the marked up chopper.
Puteh is also accused of corruption in the purchase of a used-
printing press worth Rp 4.2 billion, but the machine was
inoperable.
On Monday, martial law administrator Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya
said that Lizam and electricity equipment contractor, identified
only as William, would be handed over to police on Tuesday.
But by noon the suspects had not been in contact with the
investigators.
Also questioned in the Rp 30 billion graft case was Aceh
transportation office head Usman Budiman to shed more light on
Lizam's confession.