TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Dozens of House of Representatives members are indicated to be involved in a bribery case surrounding the infrastructure project in Ambon, Maluku, following a testimony from PT Windhu Tunggal Utama director Abdul Khoir.
Abdul’ls lawyer, Haeruddin Massaro, confirmed on Thursday, January 28, 2016, that Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators asked his client about the roles of 24 House Commission V members. Abdul said that almost all factions at Commission V received infrastructure project packages. Haeruddin added that the packages were distributed to all members of a number of factions, except the National Democratic (NasDem) party.
The case was exposed after the KPK arrested Damayanti, a politician from the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP). She was caught red-handed when receiving money that amounted to S$99,000 (69,230) from Abdul.
The KPK found House members’ involvement in the case after the anti-graft commission searched offices of Commission V members, such as Functional Group (Golkar) lawmaker Budi Supriyanto and Properous Justice Party (PKS) lawmaker Yudi Widhiana Adia.
Haeruddin explained that his client had to hand over the money because the infrastructure project used a package scheme that required interactions with House members.
The packages were distributed to contractors through the National Highway Construction Agency. In each package, Haerudin revealed, each House member receive 8 percent of the project value.
KPK chief Agus Rahardjo confirmed that there was a possibility of House members’ involvement in the case. However, Agus refused to reveal their names.
RIKY FERDIANTO | LINDA TRIANITA
