Gus Dur ready for inquiry over bribery
Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid said he was ready to face an investigation by the graft body over a lawmaker's claim to have paid his medical expenses using money allegedly obtained as a bribe.
Yusuf Emir Faishal, a lawmaker from the National Awakening Party (PKB), said he had paid a medical bill for Gus Dur using money he had allegedly received as a bribe related to a forest conversion.
Gus Dur, the PKB chief patron, denied his party member's claim, saying he still received government benefits that included payment of medical expenses.
"Go ahead and investigate it," he said Wednesday, as quoted by Antara.
"If Yusuf has the data and solid evidence on the case, he should just show it."
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detained Yusuf -- former chairman of the House of Representatives' Commission IV overseeing agriculture, forestry and fisheries -- late Tuesday.
He has been accused of receiving bribes related to the conversion of 600 hectares of Tanjung Api-api mangrove forest into a seaport in Banyuasin, South Sumatra. The KPK named him a suspect last week.
Yusuf, the husband of noted singer Hetty Koes Endang, was detained after KPK investigators searched his house in Serpong, Tangerang, for about six hours.
"The KPK seized a number of my documents, including my land certificate," he said.
Yusuf's lawyer, Sela Salomo, said all the money received by his client had gone to the PKB.
She said Yusuf had received Rp 800 million (US$86,957) from an unknown party before handing over Rp 300 million to then PKB treasurer Aris Junaidi. The remaining Rp 500 million was later submitted to then chairman of the PKB's executive council Muamir Mu'in Syam.
Gus Dur said his party kept proper records of all money it received, including that from the government and donations from individuals and party members.
On Monday, Yusuf showed two receipts to the press. One of the receipts, a bank transfer transaction, said Rp 300 million had been transferred to Aris for "hospital bills of KH AW". Another receipt, for a Rp 500 million transaction, showed the money had been given to Muamir as a "donation for the construction of the PKB building".
Aris denied the money he received was related to the conversion or that it was for a hospital bill.
He said the Rp 300 million was part of the budget for the PKB election campaign team.
Aris said the party's team still held the balance from an original Rp 900 million fund.
"Yusuf reported to Gus Dur about 18 months ago that the election campaign team still had the balance of Rp 900 million. From the fund, about Rp 300 million was then transferred to my account but it was not for gratification or for Gus Dur's medical bill," he said.
Aris said Yusuf had yet to transfer the remaining Rp 600 million allocated to the PKB campaign back to the party.
Yusuf is the second lawmaker declared a suspect in the case, after Sarjan Taher of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party was named.
The KPK has detained Sarjan, who has admitted accepting Rp 260 million in the forest conversion.
The Jakarta Post, 17 Jul 2008
Yusuf Emir Faishal, a lawmaker from the National Awakening Party (PKB), said he had paid a medical bill for Gus Dur using money he had allegedly received as a bribe related to a forest conversion.
Gus Dur, the PKB chief patron, denied his party member's claim, saying he still received government benefits that included payment of medical expenses.
"Go ahead and investigate it," he said Wednesday, as quoted by Antara.
"If Yusuf has the data and solid evidence on the case, he should just show it."
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detained Yusuf -- former chairman of the House of Representatives' Commission IV overseeing agriculture, forestry and fisheries -- late Tuesday.
He has been accused of receiving bribes related to the conversion of 600 hectares of Tanjung Api-api mangrove forest into a seaport in Banyuasin, South Sumatra. The KPK named him a suspect last week.
Yusuf, the husband of noted singer Hetty Koes Endang, was detained after KPK investigators searched his house in Serpong, Tangerang, for about six hours.
"The KPK seized a number of my documents, including my land certificate," he said.
Yusuf's lawyer, Sela Salomo, said all the money received by his client had gone to the PKB.
She said Yusuf had received Rp 800 million (US$86,957) from an unknown party before handing over Rp 300 million to then PKB treasurer Aris Junaidi. The remaining Rp 500 million was later submitted to then chairman of the PKB's executive council Muamir Mu'in Syam.
Gus Dur said his party kept proper records of all money it received, including that from the government and donations from individuals and party members.
On Monday, Yusuf showed two receipts to the press. One of the receipts, a bank transfer transaction, said Rp 300 million had been transferred to Aris for "hospital bills of KH AW". Another receipt, for a Rp 500 million transaction, showed the money had been given to Muamir as a "donation for the construction of the PKB building".
Aris denied the money he received was related to the conversion or that it was for a hospital bill.
He said the Rp 300 million was part of the budget for the PKB election campaign team.
Aris said the party's team still held the balance from an original Rp 900 million fund.
"Yusuf reported to Gus Dur about 18 months ago that the election campaign team still had the balance of Rp 900 million. From the fund, about Rp 300 million was then transferred to my account but it was not for gratification or for Gus Dur's medical bill," he said.
Aris said Yusuf had yet to transfer the remaining Rp 600 million allocated to the PKB campaign back to the party.
Yusuf is the second lawmaker declared a suspect in the case, after Sarjan Taher of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party was named.
The KPK has detained Sarjan, who has admitted accepting Rp 260 million in the forest conversion.
The Jakarta Post, 17 Jul 2008
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