Nivell Rayda

Darmawati Dareho, a Ministry of Transportation official, admitted during her trial at the Anti-Corruption Court on Monday that she helped bribe a lawmaker to secure a project for a private firm. (Photo: Lilik Dwi, Antara)

Emotional Transport Official Admits Role in Rp 3b Graft Case

A graft suspect was overcome with emotion at the Anti-Corruption Court on Monday as she openly admitted her involvement in a Rp 3 billion ($300,000) bribery scandal connected to a stimulus program for seaports in the eastern part of the country.

Darmawati Dareho, an official at the Ministry of Transportation, testifying at her corruption trial, admitted that Hontjo Kurniawan, a commissioner of construction company PT Kurnia Jaya Wirabhakti, had promised her Rp 500 million if she succeeded in convincing Abdul Hadi Djamal, a former National Mandate Party (PAN) lawmaker, to award a project to his company.

“My life is destroyed [because of the case],” Darmawati said in a trembling voice as she pleaded for leniency. “I beg you [judges and prosecutors], I have two children, the youngest is barely 2 years old. I can only wish I had never met Abdul Hadi Djamal or Hontjo .”

Prosecutors from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) suspected that the bribe money was given to secure Kurnia Jaya’s involvement in a project to revitalize seaports as part of the stimulus program discussed at the House of Representatives budgeting committee.

Darmawati also admitted to channeling the bribe money from Hontjo to Abdul Hadi on three occasions in February and March.

“Initially I planned not to be directly involved [in the transactions], but Abdul Hadi was so busy he couldn’t receive the money himself. So I helped [Hontjo] to channel the money [to Abdul Hadi],” she said.

“The whole process happened so fast that before I realized it, I was in too deep.”

The court, presided over by Judge Teguh Hariyanto, was not moved by her plea for leniency and continued to grill her.

Judge Teguh is infamous for giving out harsh sentences, sometimes exceeding the prosecutors’ recommendations.

He told the Jakarta Globe in a recent interview that he thought the current corruption law was not punitive enough.

At his own trial on Monday, Hontjo also admitted to providing the alleged bribe money, but appeared relaxed while testifyin g in court. The businessman told the court, presided over by Judge Edward Pattinasarany, that he regretted handing over the money.

According to Hontjo, Abdul Hadi told him that the person in charge of the stimulus was Johnny Allen Marbun, a lawmaker from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party.

Abdul Hadi also said that Johnny was the one who requested the Rp 3 billion, according to Hontjo.

“Abdul Hadi even told me that unless I came up with the money immediately, Johnny would take the project off the stimulus program,” the businessman said.

Abdul Hadi has repeatedly told the court that he gave Rp 1 billion to Johnny, through Johnny’s assistant Resko, at an apartment in the Kuningan area of South Jakarta.

Last week, Johnny, who co-chairs the House committee, told the court that he had never asked for the money and accused Abdul Hadi of lying.

Lead prosecutor Suwarji and his team are scheduled to present the sentencing demands for both defendants when the two trials resume on July 6.

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