KPK to summon minister this week

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.