KPK Looks into Roles of Ministers in Beef Import Graft
16 September 2013 18:34 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta- The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has confirmed it will continue to investigate the suspected involvement of policy makers in the beef import quota case.
The anti-graft commission’s deputy chairman, Busyro Muqqodas, said that based on testimonies by witnesses, the beef import quota is not only determined by the Agriculture Ministry as it also involves other ministries.
Busyro said that officials in ministries, including Agriculture Minister Suswono and Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, are only considered witnesses at this point. As for Suswono’s role in the graft case, a number of clues indicated his involvement. Busyro added that all of the names mentioned during the trial, revealing the roles of Suswono and other policy makers, would be looked into further in order to completely settle the case.
A Tempo eyewitness said the KPK could use the testimonies of witnesses or the recording revealed during the trial to nab Suswono. As for Hatta, the source said he is still considered a witness.
"Everyone is waiting for the trial (to conclude)," he said.
Up until this story was published, minister Suswono and Hatta Rajasa were unavailable for comment. However, on a number of occasions, Suswono admitted that three ministries are involved in determining the beef import quota, which includes the Agriculture Ministry, Industry Ministry and Trade Ministry.
"But the meeting and decision lies in the hands of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs," Suswono said.
Minister Hatta claimed he never received any requests to increase the beef import quota. He suspected his name was just used by suspected brokers of the project.
ANTON A | ANGGA SUKMA WIJAYA | AYU PRIMA SANDI