He is detained at the East Jakarta Detention Center for the initial 20 days."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - On Friday, the former chairman of the ruling Democratic Party, Anas Urbaningrum, was detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), after several hours of interrogation, in connection with his alleged involvement in a corruption case.
"He is detained at the East Jakarta Detention Center for the initial 20 days," KPK spokesman Johan Budi stated.
Anas emerged from the KPK building in a detainee costume at 6 p.m. after being grilled for five hours.
The interrogation was conducted by the KPK after he was subpoenaed for the third time. Anas failed to meet the first two summons on July 31, 2013 and January 7, 2014.
Anas was not accompanied by his lawyers during the investigation. His lawyers had raised an objection to the KPKs order for investigation, which they thought was not justified, as it stated that Anas will be interrogated in connection with the Hambalang project along with other projects.
"We disagree with the wording, which states that Anas is a graft suspect in the Hambalang project and other projects. The KPK investigators failed to provide an explanation when the team questioned them on the details regarding the other projects," one of Anass lawyers, Pia Akbar Nasution, stated during a telephonic conversation when asked for her comments on Anas detention.
One of Anass loyalists, Gede Pasek Suardika, who is also the secretary general of the Perhimpunan Pergerakan Indonesia (Indonesian Movement Association - PPI), a new organization established by Anas following his resignation from the Democratic Party, noted that Anas had honored the KPKs summon as a mark of his cooperation.
"That was his wish. He has come to the KPK headquarters at his own will in order to avoid any misinterpretations. In the morning, he said that he will cooperate with the KPK in its efforts to find truth and justice and it is not a forced case," noted Gede Pasek, who accompanied Anas, on his arrival at the KPK headquarters.
On February 22, 2012, Anas was named a suspect on charges of violating several articles of corruption laws for accepting bribes or gifts, which carry a sentence of four to 20 years and a fine of Rp200 million to Rp one billion.
In July 2013, KPK Chief Abraham Samad remarked that the other projects, apart from Hambalang, in which Anas was implicated, were a solar power plant project of the Ministry of Manpower and a university project of the Ministry of Education.
He added that the KPK was investigating Anas alleged involvement in the two projects. In addition to that, he noted that the KPK was also probing the alleged flow of funds from state-owned companies for supporting Anas in winning the partys leadership in a congress in Bandung, in 2010.
The KPK has so far investigated the President Director of PT Bio Farma Iskandar and the companys finance director Mohammad Sofie A Hasan.
The KPK has also investigated the head of Operation Division III of PT Pembangunan Perumahan, Lukman Hidayat, although presently, the company is not one of the state-owned companies that conducted joint operations in the Hambalang project.
On November 12, the KPKs raid on Anass residence led to the confiscation of Rp1 billion, his wifes passport, a name card under the name of PT AA Pialang Asuransi President, Wasit Suadi, the name card of Bamban Tri, the director of PT Adhi Karya, the name card of Ketut Darmawan from PT Pembangunan Perumahan, and a prayer book with a picture of Anas Urbaningrum, and four Blackberry cellphones as well as another cellphone.
The charges made on the former head of financial and household affairs of the Sports and Youth Ministry, Deddy Kusdinar, who made a commitment to the Hambalang project, mentions that in the Hambalang project, Anas received bribes amounting to Rp2.21 billion, in stages, between the period of April 19 to December 6, 2010. Anas intended to use the money for supporting his bid to win the partys chairmanship.
The money was given to Anas for making payments at hotels, buying Blackberry phones and their cards, renting cars for Anass supporters in the congress, and for other entertainment purposes.
In a press conference held following his exit from the KPK building, Anas called the day of his detention a historic day and part of an important stage in his efforts to find truth and justice.
(Reporting by Desca Lidya Natalia/INE/KR-BSR/H-YH)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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