KPU 'tactical funds' were for BPK: Treasurer

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.