PDI-P supports police investigation of bribery scandal

PDI-P supports police investigation of bribery scandal

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

To put an end to the controversy over a case of alleged bribery
at the House of Representatives, the Indonesian Democratic Party
of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) expressed its support for legal
processing to verify the allegation.

PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Roy B.B. Janis said on Tuesday
that the party would not interfere in the police investigation
into 11 party legislators over the case.

"Although the internal investigation the party carried out
failed to get come up with any proof of bribery, we welcome a
police investigation into the case," Roy said, after the party's
weekly meeting.

"We (the party's central executive board) will not stop any
party members who wish to take the case through the courts," he
said, adding that no disciplinary action would be taken against
them.

Bribery marred the credibility of the country's largest party,
PDI Perjuangan, after two of its legislators, Meilono Soewondo
and Indira Damayanti Soegondo, publicly admitted that they were
offered US$1,000 over the divestment process of Niaga Bank by
their colleagues, who said that the money had come from the
Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA).

The two said that almost all legislators from the party on
House Commission IX on finance received the money from Dudi
Makmun Murod, another legislator from the party.

Both Indira and Meilono were questioned by the police earlier
last week, but Dudi filed a police report against the two on
Monday for defamation.

When asked whether the latest development would shift the
focus of attention to Meilono and Indira, despite the fact that
they had refused the money, Roy said the party could not
determine how the police dealt with the case.

"I do not know how the police work, but our party will not
interfere in the case nor take sides with one or other of the
parties," he added.

Roy said that as far as he knew, Indira had been summoned by
the police to finalize her account of the case.

Party secretary-general Pramono Anung said that an internal
investigation of the legislators found no evidence of bribery.

He underlined that the money was given months after the
divestment process had been approved by the House in April,
before the replacement of then IBRA chief I Gde Putu Ary Suta by
incumbent Syafruddin Tumenggung.

"Giving money is more like a habit at the House, and the party
welcomes any probe into such practices," Pramono stressed.

Separately, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Saleh Saaf
said on Tuesday that the police had submitted a letter requesting
the President's approval for questioning the 11 PDI Perjuangan
legislators allegedly involved in the case.

He said the letter had been submitted via the Attorney
General's Office on Tuesday.