First Suspects Likely In Hambalang Case Next Week: KPK

Markus Junianto Sihaloho

Suspects in the Hambalang scandal could be named next week, with Corruption Eradication Commission officials not ruling out the possibility that figures close to the president were under investigation.

“No one is immune from prosecution in this country, whoever they are, including at the Palace,” said Abraham Samad, the chief of the antigraft body known as the KPK.

The announcement adds pressure on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to take action against Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum and Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng, known as one of Yudhoyono’s close confidantes.

Yudhoyono met with the leaders of the party’s 33 provincial branches on Tuesday at his private residence in Cikeas, West Java.

On Wednesday, he met with the party’s founding members, moves seen by many as drumming up support to fire Anas.

 KPK deputy chairman Zulkarnain has denied that his office was delaying questioning Anas under political pressure, saying it was just a matter of time before the KPK was ready to press forward with questioning him.

 Former Democratic Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin said in court testimony Andi Mallarangeng took Rp 20 billion ($2.1 million) from Adhi Karya, the state-run construction company that won the main contract.

He also alleged that Anas took Rp 100 billion for rigging the entire tender process.

Andi and Anas have denied the claims.

The KPK has questioned more than 50 people in the Hambalang case, including Adhi Karya executives, National Land Agency (BPN) chief Joyo Winoto, Democratic Party politician Ignatius Mulyono and Anas’ wife, Athiyyah Laila, the former commissioner of Dutasari Citralaras, a subcontractor for Adhi Karya.