KPKPN delays probe into Rachman
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The much-awaited answer to the question of whether Attorney General M.A. Rachman had hidden his wealth will not be heard in the near future as the inquiry team of the Public Servants' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) needs more time to analyze the case.
The head of the inquiry team, Rudjuan Dartono, said on Thursday that the three-member team had yet to conclude whether the irregularities found in Rachman's wealth report indicate corruption.
"We still have to learn every aspect of the report and the statements of all the witnesses. His inconsistency from when we took his statements to clarify the source of his wealth is the only incriminating factor," Rudjuan told The Jakarta Post.
Rudjuan said a special report would not be handed over to President Megawati Soekarnoputri over Rachman's case in spite of her authority as the attorney general's immediate superior.
However, rumors have circulated that Megawati will suspend Rachman next Monday pending a formal investigation into the case. The deputy attorney general for intelligence affairs, Basrief Arief, was said to be chosen to temporarily fill the seat.
Rachman is suspected of concealing a house in Depok, reportedly worth Rp 5 billion, from his wealth report. He said the house had been given to first daughter Chairunnisa although it was built using the monetary gifts from second daughter Cut Meutia Rahmi's wedding.
He argued that the family decision was based on a traditional custom regulating that younger siblings who marry have to give their wedding gifts to unmarried elder brothers or sisters.
Rachman also has an account with a balance of Rp 800 million, which he claimed had not been touched since July 2001. However, he kept changing his statements about the source of those funds.
In his latest statement to KPKPN, he claimed the money had accumulated from saving his salary and pocket money during his 37-year career.
He said he also earned an allowance as a member of the regional administration body (Muspida), which, as head of the East Java Prosecutor's Office from 1996 to 1998, amounted to Rp 300 million.
A member of KPKPN told the Post that a Muspida member at that time received only Rp 6 million per month.
He also admitted to taking advantage of the financial crisis between 1997 and 1998 by exchanging his dollars when the exchange rate reached a high of Rp 14,000 to the U.S. greenback.
He had earlier said that part of the deposit came from a consultancy fee paid by several East Java businessmen. Later, after critics said it was a possible abuse of authority, he claimed the money was a contribution from the businessmen to be given to poor and troubled East Javanese.