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Ex-Legislators Sue KPK for Rp 25b Over Graft Allegations in BI Deputy Vote
Heru Andriyanto | November 02, 2010

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Jakarta. Six former lawmakers on Monday filed a civil lawsuit against the antigraft agency for implicating them in the bribery scandal surrounding the 2004 appointment of Miranda Goeltom as a central bank deputy governor.

The six men, all ex-legislators from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), are seeking Rp 25 billion ($2.8 million) in damages from the agency, also known as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

“The KPK failed to prove who had paid them and what their motive was, but it continued to prosecute the politicians,” said Petrus Selestinus, the legal representative for the men.

The plaintiffs are Max Moein, Poltak Sitorus, Jeffrey Tongas Lumban Batu, Soetanto Pranoto, Muhammad Iqbal and Ni Luh Mariani Tirtasari, all of whom were named suspects for allegedly receiving Rp 500 million each to vote for Miranda while serving as lawmakers.

The lawsuit, filed at the Central Jakarta District Court, is also directed at the leadership of their party.

“The party leaders failed to provide sufficient reasons for the payment, which we truly believed was meant as a donation for the 2004 elections,” Petrus said.

The plaintiffs say they were instructed by PDI-P leaders to take the money and donate it to the party to support the nomination of chairwoman Megawati Sukarnoputri in the presidential race. Thus, it had nothing to do with Miranda’s central bank bid, Petrus said.

The money was given by Wahana Esa Sejati and Wahana Eka Sembada, companies belonging to Nunun Nurbaeti, the wife of then National Police deputy chief Adang Daradjatun, Petrus said, adding the lawsuit also targeted both companies.

“The KPK couldn’t really explain what the money was intended for,” Petrus said. “The payment was linked with Miranda’s election based merely on assumptions, but the KPK continued with its graft investigation,” Petrus said. “This is not to mention the discriminatory nature of its action as top PDI-P leaders have not been charged thus far.”

In addition to the civil case, the politicians also lodged a pretrial motion against the antigraft court for trying the case despite “the lack of evidence,” Petrus said.