In the latest twist in a bribery case linked to the 2004 appointment of a central bank senior executive, a witness told the Antigraft Court on Monday that some of the alleged Rp 24 billion involved went into former President Megawati Sukarnoputri’s election campaign coffers.
Budiningsih, a former lawmaker from Megawati’s Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), told the court the defendant, former party lawmaker Dudhie Makmun Murod, had given her Rp 500 million ($55,000) soon after she voted for economist Miranda Goeltom to be appointed to the Bank Indonesia post.
Dhudie “told me that it was for the presidential campaign,” she said. “I was only told that the money was for [Megawati’s] campaign.
That is all.”
Budiningsih added that she contributed to Megawati’s 2004 campaign for the presidency in East Java and Yogyakarta.
Dudhie has said that Budiningsih “knew the money was linked to the House of Representatives selection process” to fill the central bank post.
But Budiningsih said she only joined House Commission IX, which oversees banking affairs, just before the voting process and had no knowledge of the alleged bribery.
Tjahjo Kumolo, head of the PDI-P faction in the House, declined to comment on Budiningsih’s testimony.
The court also heard the testimony of two former PDI-P lawmakers, Poltak Sitorus and Suwarno, and a current legislator, Ni Luh Maryani Tirtasari.
They said Dudhie also gave each of them Rp 500 million in traveler’s checks after they cast their votes for Miranda.
“We received the money at Dudhie’s office but weren’t told what the money was for,” Suwarno told the court.
Dudhie’s lawyer, Amir Karyatin, said the checks were handed over at the office of PDI-P lawmaker Emir Moeis, who chaired Commission IX.
“But all the witnesses said they received the checks at Dudhie’s office,” the lawyer said.
“That’s impossible. They couldn’t even say where Dudhie’s office was located.”
Amir said the uniform testimony of the three “almost feels like it was orchestrated.” But Tjahjo said “there was never any briefing prior to the hearing.”
Miranda won her post with the backing of 41 of the 51 Commission IX members.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has identified 39 current and former lawmakers as having received from Rp 200 million to Rp 2.25 billion after voting for Miranda.
Four current and former lawmakers, including Dudhie, face charges of distributing the bribe among fellow party members.
Budiningsih, a former lawmaker from Megawati’s Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), told the court the defendant, former party lawmaker Dudhie Makmun Murod, had given her Rp 500 million ($55,000) soon after she voted for economist Miranda Goeltom to be appointed to the Bank Indonesia post.
Dhudie “told me that it was for the presidential campaign,” she said. “I was only told that the money was for [Megawati’s] campaign.
That is all.”
Budiningsih added that she contributed to Megawati’s 2004 campaign for the presidency in East Java and Yogyakarta.
Dudhie has said that Budiningsih “knew the money was linked to the House of Representatives selection process” to fill the central bank post.
But Budiningsih said she only joined House Commission IX, which oversees banking affairs, just before the voting process and had no knowledge of the alleged bribery.
Tjahjo Kumolo, head of the PDI-P faction in the House, declined to comment on Budiningsih’s testimony.
The court also heard the testimony of two former PDI-P lawmakers, Poltak Sitorus and Suwarno, and a current legislator, Ni Luh Maryani Tirtasari.
They said Dudhie also gave each of them Rp 500 million in traveler’s checks after they cast their votes for Miranda.
“We received the money at Dudhie’s office but weren’t told what the money was for,” Suwarno told the court.
Dudhie’s lawyer, Amir Karyatin, said the checks were handed over at the office of PDI-P lawmaker Emir Moeis, who chaired Commission IX.
“But all the witnesses said they received the checks at Dudhie’s office,” the lawyer said.
“That’s impossible. They couldn’t even say where Dudhie’s office was located.”
Amir said the uniform testimony of the three “almost feels like it was orchestrated.” But Tjahjo said “there was never any briefing prior to the hearing.”
Miranda won her post with the backing of 41 of the 51 Commission IX members.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has identified 39 current and former lawmakers as having received from Rp 200 million to Rp 2.25 billion after voting for Miranda.
Four current and former lawmakers, including Dudhie, face charges of distributing the bribe among fellow party members.
