Nazaruddin also took kickbacks: Witness
Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
General Elections Commission (KPU) treasurer Hamdani Amin testified on Wednesday against KPU chairman Nazaruddin Syamsuddin, saying the latter accepted US$602,965 in kickbacks from two firms that supplied the commissions with poll materials.
"I got cash from KPU's supplying companies through Mr. Chairman (Nazaruddin)," he told the trial of Nazaruddin at the Anticorruption Court in Jakarta.
Hamdani, who has also been charged in the same case, said he was given through Nazaruddin $170,000 from PT Pura on Jan. 23, 2004 and $432,965 from PT Leces.
"I received the funds in four phases and each time he (Nazaruddin) handed over the funds, he always mentioned the source," he added.
Hamdani claimed that all nine KPU members, including the defendant, enjoyed the kickbacks, either in American dollars or rupiah.
"Pak Ketua (Mr. Chairman) got a total of $160,000. I myself handed over the money (out of the $602,965)," he said.
The witness explained that Nazaruddin received $20,000 in January 2004, $35,000 in April, $30,000 in June, $45,000 in August and $30,000 in September 2004, as well as Rp 14 million ($1,400).
He said other KPU members received $105,000 each, while KPU secretary-general Sussongko Suhardjo got $45,000 and his deputy M. Dentjik $30,000.
Hamdani also accused KPU member Rusadi Kantaprawira, charged with corruption in the procurement of ink, of similarly collecting funds from a company that provided ink for the polls.
Hamdani confirmed that at least two legislators also accepted kickbacks but he denied ever naming them.
Dentjik earlier reportedly identified the two lawmakers as Sayuti Rachwarin and Abdur Rachman, both former members of House of Representatives Commission II on home affairs, and said they each got Rp 40 million.
Asked by the panel of judges, chaired by Kresna Menon, how the collection of kickbacks was initiated, Hamdani said it was discussed at an informal KPU meeting in October 2003.
The meeting, the witness added, was attended by Nazaruddin, KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti, two other members Daan Dimara and Rusadi and former KPU secretary-general Safder Yussac.
It was apparently decided at the meeting to collect funds from companies supplying the KPU to help improve the welfare of commission members and staff.
"In conclusion, the meeting tasked me with collecting the funds as kickbacks. And in November 2003, the KPU chairman told me to hold onto the funds," Hamdani said.
In response, Nazaruddin rejected most of Hamdani's testimony, saying he never gave any cash to the witness.
"I never handed the witness any money from PT Pura or PT Leces. Nor did I ever instruct him to hold onto the funds," Nazaruddin told the court.
He admitted receiving $45,000, not the $160,000 mentioned by Hamdani.
The high-profile graft case was revealed following the arrest of KPU member Mulyana Wira Kusumah for trying to bribe a state auditor who was inspecting the commission's financial report.
Mulyana was recently sentenced two years and seven months in prison for bribery.