Minister quizzed over graft in election body

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Minister of Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin on Wednesday underwent questioning over illegal funds allegedly channeled to him while he was a member of the General Elections Commission (KPU).

Emerging from an interrogation room at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) after six hours of questioning, Hamid denied involvement in the case, which revolves around some Rp 20 billion (US$2.1 million) in kickbacks collected from companies that won tenders to provide election materials.

Hamid, admitted, however, that he received honorariums of various amounts, separate from his monthly salary of Rp 10,625,000 ($1,115), for taking part in several working committees dealing with provision of election materials.

The honorariums, he said, were legal as he received the money in envelopes that bore the KPU logo, and was given receipts that were signed by the poll body's treasurer Hamdani Amin, who has been named a suspect in the case.

"I was not aware of where the money came from and I was not in the position to ask since the receipts were signed by the treasurer," Hamid told reporters after the questioning.

Hamdani has told the KPK investigators that each KPU member received $105,000, while the chairman and deputy chairman received $145,000 and $125,000 respectively from the kickbacks.

KPU chief Nazaruddin Syamsuddin, member Mulyana W. Kusumah and acting secretary general Sussongko Suhardjo have been declared suspects in the case.

Hamid appeared for questioning after leading the government's negotiators in the just-concluded fourth round of talks with the Free Aceh Movement leaders in Helsinki.

KPK investigators quizzed Hamid about the organizational system of the poll body and its decision-making processes, according to Hamid.

The minister said he had never heard about or attended a plenary meeting to discuss distribution of kickbacks.

KPU member Daan Dimara had earlier confessed to receiving U.S. currency funds from Hamdani, an account that Hamid has denied.

Hamid also said he knew nothing about $170,000 in cash from PT Pura Barutama that went to the KPU. The company supplied voting cards after winning a Rp 70 billion tender conducted by a Hamid- led working committee.

When traveling abroad, Hamid said that he received allowances from the KPU treasurer.

"The amount of money was exactly the same as mentioned in my letter of overseas duty," Hamid said, adding that the amount of allowances varied.

As an example, he said received $2,700 for a seven-day trip to Canada.

During his term as a KPU member, Hamid said he had traveled to South Africa, the United States, Egypt and Canada.

When asked about his future as a minister, Hamid said he was leaving this up to the President who has the prerogative to appoint and dismiss Cabinet members.