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KPK to Probe Anggodo Collaborators

The Corruption Eradication Commission on Friday pledged to investigate those implicated in wiretapped recordings allegedly plotting to frame two of its commissioners, in the wake of the arrest of the scandal’s key actor.

The commission, also known as the KPK, arrested businessman Anggodo Widjojo after a third round of questioning on Thursday and charged him with three criminal offenses: attempted bribery, obstruction of justice and conspiracy to commit acts of corruption. Anggodo faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Anticorruption activists had demanded that the KPK charge Anggodo ever since the public broadcast in November of wiretapped telephone conversations between him and several law enforcement officials. The tapes shocked and outraged the nation, revealing an apparent conspiracy to frame KPK deputy chairmen Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra M Hamzah for extortion.

“Of course we will question everyone who is involved,” KPK interim Chairman Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean said. “The investigators will arrange a schedule for their inquiries.”

Among those who implicated in the recordings were two retired deputy attorney generals, Abdul Hakim Ritonga and Wisnu Subroto, and Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) Deputy Chairman I Ketut Sudiharsa.

Following the scandal, Ritonga immediately submitted his resignation while the LPSK suspended Sudiharsa. Subroto was no longer working for the Attorney General’s Office at the time.

National Police investigator Comr. Suparman had also allegedly tried to align Anggodo’s testimony with the physical evidence that police had collected to support his claim.

Although not among those recorded in the wiretaps, the National Police’s former chief detective, Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji, was mentioned several times in the recordings. He was demoted last year in connection with the scandal.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said that Anggodo was scheduled to be questioned for the first time as a suspect on Monday.

Separately, the National Police has concluded its investigation into a potential star witness in the case: Ary Muladi. He has been charged with embezzling the Rp 5.1 billion ($556,000) Anggodo claimed was used to bribe KPK officials.

Ary said the funds instead went to a man known only as Yulianto, whose identity and whereabouts remain unknown.

Anggodo is now in custody at Cipinang Prison in East Jakarta. His lawyer, Bonaran Situmeang, said he had written to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono outlining the “unjust treatment” his client had received.

“Mr. President, please see that the law only applies to the weak and defenseless like my client,” Bonaran said, adding that Bibit and Chandra were released from detention after just 36 hours.

The KPK deputies were released as public pressure mounted after the wiretapped recordings were released.

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