Sussongko grilled in KPU graft probe

Sussongko grilled in KPU graft probe

JAKARTA: Acting secretary general of the General Elections
Commission (KPU) Sussongko Suhardjo was questioned for a second
time by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Tuesday as
a witness into alleged corruption in the provision of the 2004
general elections guidebook.

Head of the general affairs division of the KPU, Bambang
Budiharto, was the main suspect in the case. KPK alleges that the
Rp 30 billion (US$3.06 million) used to produce the election
guidebook had been marked-up, causing the state to suffer some Rp
17 billion in losses.

Sussongko declined to provide comment to the press, but his
lawyer Budiman Pamungkas told reporters last week that during the
first questioning Sussongko had confirmed that expenses to
produce the book had been marked-up.

Sussongko himself is also a suspect in a high profile bribery
case, that may lead to the unveiling of massive corruption at the
KPU. -- Antara