Whistle-blower to drop testimony against AG

Whistle-blower to drop testimony against AG

P.C. Naommy, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The investigation into alleged corruption involving Attorney
General MA Rachman was dealt a large blow on Friday when a key
witness said he would withdraw his testimony.

Prosecution witness Kito Irkhamni, who gave the Public
Servant's Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) the initial tip that
led to the investigation, submitted to the National Police on
Friday a statement refusing to be a witness and withdrawing his
earlier testimony that implicated the attorney general.

"I haven't got any witness protection from KPKPN, that's why I
withdraw the evidence and refuse to testify in the case," Kito
said.

The KPKPN had failed give him witness protection support
during his trial in which he was convicted of fraud involving Rp
480 million (US$56,470), he said.

The South Jakarta District Court found Kito guilty of failing
to fulfill a Rp 480 million construction job on a house owned by
Ati Mulyati in Puri Cinere, South Jakarta, after spending more
than a year on the project.

He was sentenced to one month and 23 days for the fraud, minus
the detention period for the trial, which covered the same amount
of time.

"I agreed to give testimony in the MA Rachman case because the
KPKPN had promised to put me under its witness protection
program. But the reality was a big zero!" said Kito.

Before his trial, Kito had testified before the KPKPN on
Rachman's alleged hidden wealth in the form of a luxury house in
Depok, West Java, estimated to be worth over Rp 5 billion.

"So, it isn't that I don't respect the KPKPN, but I will need
more than just one day or a week of protection," said Kito in
response to a statement from KPKPN that it had provided him
protection and assistance in facing several threats during his
trial.

Kito also complained about prolonged legal procedures for the
case. He said the KPKPN should have urged the police to speed up
the process so the case would not be "contaminated".

Kito said the lengthy investigation into Rachman's case had
put him and his family in a difficult situation. "I cannot do my
job and my business is stuck because of this matter," he said.

Kito said if the police had been serious about investigating
the case, it would have been easy to spare a day to meet with
President Megawati Soekarnoputri and ask her for permission to
question the attorney general.

"The National Police chief is an assistant to the President
and should have direct access to her and ask for a permit to
question him. I'm sure it wouldn't take more than a day to do
that," Kito said.

KPKPN head of the Rahman investigation Petrus Selestinus told
The Jakarta Post it was odd for Kito to withdraw testimony he had
already given.

"It is strange if he plans to take back what he said during
the examination. It's okay for him to do it, but he should do it
according to the rules," Petrus said.

People couldn't just hand in a letter to the police to
withdraw testimony, he said. Kito should have gone to the KPKPN,
informed them of which part of the testimony he wanted to
withdraw and then compiled a new dossier.

Petrus said the KPKPN would not be deaf to allegations against
Rachman. However: "If the police can't find enough evidence that
can bring Rahman to court, then we will accept that," he said.

Petrus said clarity in the case was needed, since Rahman had
the right to legal assistance.