KPK shows interests in $31m bribery case involving Tutut
KPK shows interests in $31m bribery case involving Tutut
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The powerful Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is following
up allegations that former president Soeharto's daughter, Siti
"Tutut" Hardiyanti Rukmana, received US$31 million in bribes from
a British arms company to sell tanks to Indonesia a decade ago.
KPK deputy chairman Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas said on Saturday
the commission was studying documents obtained from the Guardian
(British) newspaper that released a report on the case.
"We have met representatives of the newspaper, and are
currently looking into the reports. Should the case be strong
enough, we will then move forward with the investigation," Erry
told The Jakarta Post.
He said the case had drawn the KPK's interest as it involved
Tutut, the eldest daughter of Soeharto. Soeharto remains a
suspect for stealing US$571 million of state assets during his
32-year rule but was declared too ill to stand trial in September
2002.
"Of course we are interested in finding out more facts about
the allegations leveled at Tutut," Erry said. The commission
would soon ask for formal documents, such as the contract and
other papers related to the deal, he said.
The Guardian reported that British arms firm Alvis paid some
US$31.9 million in bribes to Tutut to secure the sale of 100
Scorpion tanks to the Indonesian Army in the mid-1990s.
The report said that Alvis' former consultant, Chan U Seek,
called the payment "a tax" to seal the deal.
The firm had been trying to keep the documents a secret but
the English High Court on Thursday ordered the release of the
files.
One of Soeharto's close aides told the Post that Tutut was
aware of the accusations, but so far did not see any urgency in
responding to the reports.
"So far Mbak Tutut has no intention of making any comments,
and I don't think she has contacted her lawyers regarding the
matter," the aide said.
The case could kickstart fresh attempts to implicate the
Soeharto family for corruption, collusion and nepotism that
critics say has landed members great personal wealth during
Soeharto's presidency.
His doctors claim the former strongman suffered a stroke that
has adversely affected his speaking ability.
His aides say Soeharto can no longer write or read, although
physically he is in good shape.
"He can still walk unaided, but the problems remain in his
ability to talk, read and write. He can only sign papers," the
aide said.
If Tutut is prosecuted over the case, she will not be the
first of Soeharto's offspring to run foul of the law.
One of his sons, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, is a convicted
murderer and is serving a 15-year jail sentence in Nusakambangan
maximum security prison, Central Java, for killing a Supreme
Court justice who had sentenced him for corruption offenses.