KPU 'tactical funds' were for BPK: Treasurer

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The General Elections Commission (KPU) had a share in the money given to a Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) auditor, which has led to the arrest of commission member Mulyana W. Kusumah for alleged bribery, its treasurer says.

The commission treasurer, Hamdani Amin, told reporters after undergoing questioning by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators on Wednesday that the money was taken from the KPU's "tactical funds".

"I explained to the investigators about the financial assistance, which was indeed related to (KPU) tactical funds," Hamdani was quoted as saying by Antara.

He refused, however, to go into details.

"Let's KPK explain it," he said as he got into a waiting car.

His statement contradicted earlier remarks of KPU chairman Nazaruddin Syamsuddin who said all the money allegedly given to the state auditor came from Mulyana, who has been declared a suspect.

Earlier in the day, KPK began its prosecution of Mulyana in a bid to find solid evidence of graft involving the commission.

Mulyana, who was arrested by KPK investigators last Friday for allegedly trying to bribe a state auditor, was questioned for more than four hours. Questioning began at 1 p.m.

KPK deputy chief Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean said the questioning centered on his knowledge about 61 documents confiscated by KPK investigators on Tuesday.

One of Mulyana's lawyers, Sirra Prayuna, told The Jakarta Post it was the first time his client had been questioned since he was declared a suspect on Saturday. Mulyana had undergone questioning on two previous occasions.

"He (Mulyana) was given seven questions today. The questions were related to the bribery attempt," Sirra said.

The lawyers have asked for their client to be released from detention in Salemba prison, but the KPK has not responded to the request.

KPK investigators claim that Mulyana, a noted criminologist and human rights activist, was caught red-handed while allegedly trying to bribe a Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) official responsible for the auditing of KPU funds during a meeting in a West Jakarta hotel.

Mulyana is believed to have brought Rp 150 million (US$15,800) in cash and travelers checks to the meeting in an apparent effort to persuade the auditor to conceal the misuse of KPU funds.

KPK said the money was a second payment to the BPK auditors, with the total bribe amounting to Rp 300 million. KPK said it had been investigating the case for one month.

Mulyana's daughter Gita Santiyana had previously said her father did not have that much money, thus the bribe was thought to have come from various sources including the KPU members' own pockets.

Nazaruddin, who will receive an award as a distinguished alumnus and honorary professor from Monash University in Australia on Thursday, said his position as commission head was related to policy making, not bribes.