TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Witness Miryam Haryani yesterday retracted all her statements listed in the police investigation report in electronic identity card or e-KTP graft trial. The House’s Hanura faction member said she was intimidated during the questioning by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
However, a KPK source said that Miryam had been intimidated by several politicians to make her deny all allegations of money trail into the parliament. She was said to be had been summoned by her colleagues before being questioned by the KPK. Other witness had also been intimidated, leading to them changing their statement in the KPK questioning.
Miryam yesterday testified for two defendants: the Home Affairs Ministry officials Irman and Sugiharto. “I have retracted it because it’s not true,” she said at the Jakarta Corruption Court.
A member of the panel of judges Franky Tumbuwun questioned why she changed her mind. “Have you been intimidated?” he said.
Chief Justice John Halasan Butar-butar asked Miryam: “Did you meet someone before today’s trial and was asked not to say anything?” To which Miryam replied while lowering her head and sobbing: “No, Your Honor.”
Miryam claimed that she was intimidated during the KPK questioning by investigators Novel Baswedan, Damanik and M.I. Santoso.
The indictment says that Miryam allegedly distributed and received Rp5.83 billion in the e-KTP project for the parliament. She also allegedly received Rp7 billion from 2010 to 2012 and distributed them to the leadership and members of the House’s Governance Commission. Moreover, she allegedly received US$23,000 or around Rp220 million.
The indictment says that Maryam did them under the instructions of the Governance Commission speaker Chairuman Harahap. Miryam’s confession corroborated the statement made by former Democrat Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin that all members of the Governance Commission for 2009-2014 term took bribes in the e-KPT project.
Soesilo Ariwibowo, the defense lawyer of defendants Irman and Sugiharto, said that Miryam has put his clients at a disadvantage by retracting her statement. To counter Miryam’s move, Soesilo has promised to bring the beneficiaries and the courier(s) who deliver the money to Miryam from Sugiharto.
Meanwhile, the KPK will bring its three investigators to court in the next trial session on Monday. The KPK deputy chief denied allegations that the investigators had intimidated Miryam. “We have worked professionally, no intimidation,” Alexander said. The KPK chief Agus Raharjo has called on Miryam to tell the truth because she is under oath. “Don’t give false testimony,” he said.
Hussein Abri Dongoran | Maya Ayu Puspitasari
