Progress made in probe of JEC scandal

Asip A. Hasani, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

The Yogyakarta Provincial Prosecutor's Office named as suspects on Wednesday Herman Abdurrahman, chairman of the legislature's United Development Party (PPP) faction and Duljiman, chief of the local office of state-owned construction company PT. Adhi Karya in an alleged bribery scandal involving the Rp 42.5 billion upgrade of the Jogja Expo Center (JEC).

The head of the prosecutor's office, Hantoro Soemaryo, said in a press conference here on Wednesday that his office had already gathered enough material evidence on the two suspects in the corruption case.

"Today, we'll send a letter to the home minister to ask for permission to question Herman and summon other legislators as witnesses," he said.

The investigation into the case was carried out following reports by several legislators on the alleged bribery involved in the disbursement of funds in the project and last September's deputy gubernatorial election.

The two are believed to have accepted a bribe from PT. Adhi Karya of Rp 150 million as compensation for the legislators' political support in the disbursement by the provincial administration of Rp 9 billion, the last part of the total amount of Rp 42.5 billion, to finish the upgrade.

The provincial chapter of the United Development Party (PPP) had found a copy of bank transfer slip notifying a transfer of Rp 150 million from construction company PT. Adhi Karya to Herman's bank account at the local branch of Bank Bali early in January.

Herman recently admitted that he received a bank transfer of Rp 150 million but returned it because he did not know the sender.

PPP's investigating team has said the money was returned on Feb. 15 and not on Jan. 15, 2002.

Soemaryo also said that his office would ask permission from Central Bank (BI) to examine bank accounts belonging to the suspects.

Only hours after Soemaryo named the suspects, the legislature's leadership met with Governor Hamengku Buwono X for serious talks at his office.

Following the meeting, the governor declined to give a detailed explanation about the talks. He said the legislators reported on the progress in the investigation into the case.

"We are of the same opinion that the case must be investigated thoroughly and handled in accordance with the law.

"I hope that this case will be brought to court," the governor said.

Meanwhile, Duljiman, shocked that he had been named a suspect in the case, said he had not transferred money to any legislators through the bank.

A source in the provincial administration who asked to remain anonymous said that PT. Adhi Karya was actually blameless in the scandal as the company was under pressure from legislators to provide the money to win support for the disbursement of the funds.

The source also said that Adhi Karya risked losing the project, which was also partly financed by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), unless the money was given.