Prosecutor probes bribery case involving councillors

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Jakarta Prosecutor's Office visited the City Council on Friday to investigate an allegation that city-owned joint venture PT Jakarta International Trade Fair (JITF) had bribed several councillors.

Intelligence assistant to the office R.J. Soehandojo said he had tried to meet councillor Ugiek Soegihardjo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and council secretary Moerdiman.

"I wanted to get clarification on the matter. It is a pity the two men were not in their office," Soehandojo told reporters at City Hall.

Ugiek Soegihardjo earlier admitted receiving Rp 20 million (US$2,096) from PT JITF through his party's faction chairman, Agung Imam Sumanto.

He said it was Moerdiman who first told him there was some money for him from the company.

The prosecutor's office will also investigate an alleged irregularity in the sale of 10 hectares of land, which belonged to the company.

It is not the first time the prosecutor's office has investigated crimes related to the city administration. But the settlement of most cases, including the controversial foreign trips which involving dozens of city officials and councillors, is never clear.

Ugiek was among 25 councillors who are members of the council's special committee investigating the company's alleged irregularities.

Separately, the committee's chairman, Tarmidi Soehardjo, who is also the council deputy chairman, claimed he had not received any money, but knew that Ugiek had received it.

"You can ask Agung, he knows the details," Tarmidi, who is the party's city chapter chairman, told reporters.

Agung could not be reached for comment on Friday.

Agung and dozens of city councillors who were supposed to be in Bangka-Belitung, Gorontalo and North Sulawesi until Friday, reportedly cut short their visit and returned to the city on Thursday due the bribery report. But almost all the councillors were absent at the council.

Several councillors, who are also members of the committee, pledged they did not receive any money from the company, asking the council to clarify the matter.

"In the name of God, I did not receive any money from the company," said chairman of the United Development Party (PPP)'s faction Chudlory Syafei Hadzami.

The company is partly owned by the city administration, state- run Kemayoran Body, private developer Griya Nusa Pradhana, which is controlled by businessman Edward Soerjadjaja and the Japan Development Corporation.