Prosecutor probes bribery case involving councillors

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.