KPK to summon minister this week

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has requested the President's permission to question Minister of Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin in relation to alleged corruption in the General Elections Commission (KPU).

"We sent the letter to the president today," KPK investigator Adi Derian told the media on Monday.

He added that questioning of the former KPU member was likely to take place at the KPK office on Wednesday or Thursday.

It was not immediately clear why the KPK needed the permission of the President to question the minister as existing regulations allow the KPK to probe any top government official without such prior permission. However, the request may be related to Hamid's current role as the government's chief negotiator in peace talks with the rebel Free Aceh Movement (GAM), which has been seeking independence for the province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.

KPK is currently investigating alleged corruption at the KPU over the use of funds during last year's general elections. There have been accusations that the KPU inflated the price of election materials and that the commission had received kickbacks from private companies appointed to provide the election materials.

So far, five KPU officials including its chairman Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin have been detained by the KPK.

Investigations into the high-profile corruption case is seen as a test for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's commitment to curb the nation's rampant corruption.

The case became headlines when KPU member Mulyana W. Kusumah was caught red-handed two months ago in an apparent attempt to bribe a state auditor in a bid to influence the audit of KPU funds.

Meanwhile, the KPK decided on Monday to extend the detention of Nazaruddin for another 40 days as it aims to speed up the investigation process.

Since the case first emerged two months ago, the KPK has been questioning different KPU officials every day.

On Monday, it questioned the former secretary general of the KPU Safder Yusacc over the provision of election materials.

Safder told KPK investigators that the election materials were provided by private companies, some of which were directly appointed by the KPU and others that were appointed based on a tender mechanism.

Safder was previously quoted by his lawyer as saying that all KPU officials and members had received a share of the kickbacks obtained from private companies.