KPK expects more suspects in athlete village scandal

The disclosure on Friday that Democrat Party (PD) cadre Angelina Sondakh is named a suspect is expected to serve as an entry point for investigators to uncover other suspects in an alleged corruption scheme involving construction of an athletes village.

Angelina Sondakh, who is deputy secretary general of the ruling Democrat Party and a member of the PD Faction in the House of Representatives (DPR), said her being named as a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was not the end of this episode.

"This is not the end, it`s just the beginning," said Angelina, whois also popularly called Angie, in a BlackBerry text message to ANTARA. She also called on all parties to respect the principle that those accused are presumed innocent.

Further, Angie said she hoped God would provide proof of her innocence and reveal the problems behind the case.

In the meantime, KPK Chairman Abraham Samad, who was recently appointed chief of the anti-graft body and has pledged to investigate major cases such as the Bank Century and the SEA Games athletes village construction scandals, said the new suspects would open the door to uncover the involvement of other parties.

Therefore, he said, KPK has asked for Angie and I Wayan Koster, a politician from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), to be banned from traveling abroad.

It was KPK chief Abraham Samad who announced on Friday that Angie is one of the new suspects in the corruption investigation of the SEA Games athletes village construction project in Palembang, South Sumatra.

Angelina is the second Democrat Party cadre implicated in the case, after charges were filed naming M Nazaruddin, the party`s former treasurer, who is now on trial in the corruption criminal court.

Nazaruddin was charged with having received a bribe in the form of a fee for helping PT Duta Graha Indah to win the tender for construction of the Rp191 billion SEA Games athletes village project.

Nazaruddin was believed to have received Rp4.3 billion and Angelina is accused of accepting Rp5 billion. Angelina Sondakh and Wayan Koster previously denied receiving fees for assisting PT Duta Graha Indah (DGI) in his being awarded the project contract, worth Rp191 billion.

Witnesses during the trial of M Nazaruddin have often mentioned Angie and Wayan Koster as having received Rp5 billion in cheques in two stages from the director of PT Anak Negeri, Mindo Rosalina Manulang (Rosa).

Abraham said the KPK would delve deeper into the case, and with Angelina now an official suspect, the opportunity had been opened to investigate the involvement of others.

The KPK will charge Angelina based upon Article 5-section 2 or 11, or Article 12 paragraph of Law No 31 on Corruption Eradication, for having received a promise or gift as a payment.

Further, Abraham Samad said the commission would have no qualms about declaring anybody a suspect, regardless of the person`s position, if it acquires evidence against them.

"If we already have the evidence, anybody - whether politician, businessman or even party leader - can be named a suspect" in a corruption case, Abraham said here Friday.

He added that it often happened that in the public`s view, a person could already be seen as a suspect in a corruption case, though

under the Criminal Code one can only become a suspect if officials already have at least two exhibits or pieces of evidence against the accused.

In the meantime, PD Secretary General Edhie Baskoro (Ibas) expressed

concern that PD legislator Angelina Sondakh has been named as a suspect by the KPK.

Nonetheless, he said, the Democrat Party would support the efforts of the law enforcement agencies, the KPK in particular, to uncover the truth in the corruption case. "I am concerned about Angelina having been named a new suspect in the alleged SEA Games athletes village corruption case," he said in a press statement.

He noted that the party would continue monitoring developments in the KPK`s investigation and adhere to its internal mechanism and statutes in responding to matters involving any of its members.

"Another PD cadre now has to undergo a legal process, after we already have been rocked for so long by storms and waves of trials. We are being tested," Ibas added.

Therefore, the Democrat Party`s executive board is to form a legal defense team for Angelina Sondakh. 

"The Democrat Party`s executive board respects the legal process which adheres to the principle of presumption of innocence. The party will form a team to provide legal assistance to Angelina Sondakh," Mohammad Jafar Hafsah, chairman of the party`s people`s welfare department, said.

Regarding the naming of Angelina Sondakh as a suspect, legislator Bambang Soesatyo of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission III on legal affairs said he appreciated the anti-graft body`s decision.

"With its decision to name Miranda Gultom and Angelina Sondakh as suspects, the KPK gives us new hope for the disclosure of the travel check and SEA Games village cases. What remains now is the Bank Century case, which involves a bailout of RP6.7 trillion," said Bambang Soesatyo

Source: ANTARA