TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chief Agus Rahardjo said that his institution may name another suspect after the indictment of Fahd El Fouz or Fahd A. Rafiq in a Koran graft case causing Rp27.056 billion in state losses.
Earlier, the court mentioned house members and the Religious Affairs Minister officials in its ruling. Fahd was repeatedly mentioned for his role in arranging the winner of the project tender. The politician, who is also Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto’s confidante, along with two others named Zulkarnaen and Dendy allegedly lobbied the ministry’s officials.
The evidence presented in the trial was Fahd’s handwriting containing fees for three projects which was sent to former House of Representatives (DPR) deputy speaker Priyo Budi Santoso. The writing says that Priyo, who was also Golkar politician, received 1 percent of the computer lab project budget that amounted to Rp31.2 billion and 3.5 percent of the Koran procurement project budget for 2012 worth Rp22 billion.
Following Fahd’s suspect naming, Tempo could not reach Priyo for comment. Priyo had earlier denied involvement in the project. “Fahd has misused my name,” Priyo said in June 2013.
A number of Religious Affairs Ministry officials were also named in the verdict, including former deputy minister Nasaruddin Umar, former secretary-general of Muslim education Abdul Karim and former Muslim education unit service director Mashuri.
Nasaruddin had denied the charge. “There was never been a direct appointment,” he said. Meanwhile, Abdul Karim had admitted to receiving money, which he later returned to the KPK. “I have returned them all to the KPK,” he said in his testimony at the Jakarta Corruption Court on February 28, 2013.
KPK spokesperson Febri Diansyah said that investigators will question the individuals named in the verdict.
Three individuals had earlier been given prison sentences in connection with the Koran procurement graft case, namely former House Religious Affairs Commission member Zulkarnaen Djabar, Religious Affairs Ministry’s procurement officials Ahmad Jauhari, Zulkarnaen’s son Dendy Prasetia. The court has sentenced Zulkarnaen to 15 years in jail, Jauhari to 10 years in jail and Dendy to 8 years in jail.
INDRI MAULIDAR | FRANSISCO ROSARIANS
