KPKPN to report legislators to police over corruption
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Public Servants' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) plans to report two lawmakers to the police for their alleged involvement in corruption, in its bid to step up moves against the crime.
Abdullah Hehamahua, deputy chairman of KPKPN in charge of legislators' wealth audit, said on Friday the report would be filed by the end of this month, while it continued investigations into the remaining five legislators whose wealth reports raised the commission's eyebrows.
"I don't want to disclose their (legislators) names, but we will submit the report of our examination into their wealth by the end of this month. We believe these two legislators to have committed public lies," Hehamahua told The Jakarta Post at his office.
The other five lawmakers would have to clarify their dubious wealth reports in February, Hehamahua said.
KPKPN has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Attorney General's Office and the National Police regarding the eradication of corruption.
A total of 31 state officials, including lawmakers and some bigwigs, have been summoned by KPKPN to clarify their wealth reports.
House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung of the Golkar Party, legislator Roy B.B. Janis of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), People's Consultative Assembly Deputy Speaker Ginandjar Kartasasmita, and Assembly member Fuad Bawazier are reportedly among those legislators who have to clarify their wealth reports.
Akbar and Fuad declared assets valued at Rp 33.4 billion and Rp 45 billion respectively, while Ginandjar reported his wealth at Rp 25.6 billion with an additional US$340,000. Their assets have sparked controversy following claims that most of them were gifts received from a third party.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri and her husband Taufik Kiemas declared combined assets worth Rp 59 billion that they accumulated from family businesses. Nevertheless, they have yet to verify their assets with KPKPN, despite the commission's repeated requests.
Abdullah said that both Megawati and Taufik had also failed to report their art and antique collections, the estimated value of which exceeds Rp 1 billion.
Petrus Selestinus, the KPKPN member in charge of its judiciary branch, said that sometime next week, Chief Justice Bagir Manan was scheduled to clarify his wealth report. Bagir's reported wealth was valued at Rp 678 million (US$79,764).
"Pak Bagir will also be expected to verify our suspicions regarding several justices and judges who apparently have reported well below the value of their actual assets," Petrus said.
Meanwhile, Alfian Husin, the KPKPN member in charge of its executive branch, said that his team would summon State Minister of State Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi, South Kalimantan Governor Sjachriel Darham, Toraja regent Johanis Amping Situru, and Jember regent Samsul Hadi Siswoyo to clarify their reports.
"I think we have to summon Pak Laksamana in response to public queries about whether the recent sale of state telecommunications company PT Indosat has made him wealthier," Alfian said.
Laksamana reported his wealth at Rp 26 billion in August, 2001.