Outspoken councillor suspended

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

City councillor Ugiek Soegihardjo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) has been suspended for reporting an alleged bribe he received from businessman Edward Surjadjaja, the party's senior councillor said on Tuesday.

"Ugiek has been pressured into not attending the council's sessions," the councillor, who asked for anonymity, told reporters before a plenary session of the council.

The councillor claimed Ugiek was under pressure from the party's city chapter chairman, the council's deputy chairman, Tarmidi Suhardjo, and the party's faction chairman, Agung Imam Sumanto.

Last month, Ugiek revealed he had received a Rp 20 million bribe from the city joint venture company PT Jakarta International Trade Fair, which was controlled by Edward.

Several other councillors, also from the same party, who were members of the council's special committee investigating irregularities in the company, allegedly received the same amount of money.

Ugiek, a member of the council's Commission B for economic affairs, claimed he received the money from Agung.

Agung had admitted giving him the money, but said it was from his own pocket, instead of from Edward.

Edward laid a complaint against Ugiek to the city police for defamation.

Since his testimony, Ugiek, known as an outspoken councillor, rarely attended council sessions, including Tuesday's plenary session when councillors gave their general opinions on a draft bylaw on taxation procedures.

Ugiek could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Councillor Agus Dharmawan of the National Mandate Party revealed on Tuesday that Ugiek had joined the council's visit to Samarinda, East Kalimantan, last week, but admitted the latter had rarely attended council sessions since the bribery case was reported by the press.

"It's regretful if he really was suspended because of his disclosure of the bribery," said Agus, who is also member of Commission B and the special committee.

However, councillor Agung Imam Sumanto denied his faction had suspended Ugiek. He also denied having anything to do with the bribery allegation.

"It's his business with the police. Ugiek has not been punished so far," said Agung, who is also a member of the council's special team.

PDI Perjuangan's faction deputy chairman Totok Ismunandar supported Agung's statement, saying Ugiek had been suffering from a liver complaint.