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Middleman’s Motive in Bank Indonesia Bribery Case Still Unclear
Nivell Rayda | March 14, 2010

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The Corruption Eradication Commission is struggling to establish a motive behind the role of the alleged middleman in the Rp 24 billion ($2.62 million) bribery scandal linked to Miranda Goeltom’s appointment to Bank Indonesia in 2004.

Several suspects and witnesses have identified Nunun Nurbaeti Daradjatun as the distributor of 480 traveler’s checks, including to 41 members of the House of Representatives Commission IX, which at the time oversaw financial and banking affairs, allegedly in exchange for voting for Miranda as senior deputy governor of the central bank.

But the antigraft agency, also known as the KPK, has so far not been able to pin down a motive to solidify the case.

The country’s antimoney-laundering agency, the Financial Transaction Report and Analysis Center (PPATK), alleges the checks were purchased by PT First Mujur Plantation and PT Bank Artha Graha International, two associated companies of the Artha Graha Group owned by tycoon Tommy Winata. The checks were issued by Bank International Indonesia.

But Nunun has no known businesses connected to the banking and financial sector or any ties to Artha Graha. Her lawyer, Partahi Sihombing, said her business interests were in telecommunications and agriculture, and that she owned a telecommunications magazine, “Telset.”

The lawyer added that Miranda and Nunun, the wife of former National Police deputy and current Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) lawmaker Adang Daradjatun, knew each other but had no special relationship. “It would be impossible if someone said that my client is involved in the bribery. What’s in it for Nunun?” Partahi said.

According to a dossier on the case titled “Chronology of an Act of Corruption” (“LKTPK”) obtained by the Jakarta Globe, the KPK identified Nunun as “a likely suspect” who could be charged under Article 5 Section 1 or Article 13 of the 1999 Law on Corruption.

However, the dossier, signed by KPK director of preliminary investigations Iswan Elmi, failed to established a motive.

“This is the reason the KPK wished not to rush to any decision against Nunun,” a source at the KPK said.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said he was not aware of the document, but explained that an LKTPK is the final report of a graft probe. This does not mean, however, that the KPK is done investigating her role.

But Adnan Topan Husodo, deputy chairman of Indonesia Corruption Watch, said it was important to charge Nunun, even without establishing a motive, as it would help uncover the mastermind behind the case.

The KPK has so far charged four current and former lawmakers from various parties in the case. Two suspects, former lawmaker from the police and military faction Udju Djuhaeri and current Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Dudhie Makmun Murod, are on trial separately at the Anti-Corruption Court in Jakarta.

The prosecution alleged that Udju and Dudhie received Rp 500 million and Rp 9.8 billion, respectively, from Nunun’s aide, Ahmad Safari Hakim, also known as Arie Malangjudo. Ahmad is the director of PT Wahana Esa Sejati, owned by Nunun.

The dossier indicated two other suspects: former Golkar Party lawmaker Hamka Yandhu, who received a total of Rp 7.25 billion from Ahmad, and current United Development Party (PPP) lawmaker Endin Soefihara, who received Rp 1.5 billion.

The four suspects, who have admitted receiving and cashing the checks, later distributed the funds to members of their respective parties.




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