Graft suspect promised to finance PKS campaigns

Hans Nicholas Jong, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Headlines | Thu, April 25 2013, 9:47 AM

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Review: Bribery suspects Arya Effendi (second left) and Juard Effendi (second right), both directors of beef importer PT Indoguna Utama, consult their lawyers after their trials at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Wednesday. Arya and Juard are accused of bribing former Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chief Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq and his fellow PKS politician, Agriculture Minister Suswono, for a bigger import quota. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)

The first trial hearing of two suspects in the beef graft scandal revealed on Wednesday that former Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chairman Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq may have used the alleged bribery money to finance the party’s election campaign in North Sumatra.

While reading out their indictment against PT Indoguna Utama officials Juard Effendi and Arya Abdi Effendi, who stand accused of bribing Luthfi, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors said Luthfi had allegedly asked meat import company Indoguna’s president director, Maria Elizabeth Liman, to finance his campaign trip to North Sumatra.

The request was made when Ahmad Fathanah, a close aide to Luthfi, met with Maria in a restaurant in Senayan City, South Jakarta, in December last year. “The meeting was held to ask whether Maria Elizabeth was willing to finance Luthfi’s campaign in Sumatra,” lead prosecutor Mochamad Rum told the Jakarta Corruption Court.

Rum said that during the meeting Maria promised she would finance PKS campaigns if the party could assist her in securing a higher import quota from the Agriculture Ministry, which is led by PKS politician
Suswono.

Maria, who has also been charged in the case, later instructed Arya to prepare Rp 300 million (US$30,873) for Luthfi, according to Rum.

The allegation is likely to further tarnish the reputation of the Islamic party that once touted itself as the cleanest political party in the country. The PKS, which won the election in North Sumatra, previously claimed that its victory showed that the scandal had not undermined the party’s electoral prospects.

According to the indictment, Luthfi, then chairman of the PKS, played a key role in the scandal. He was the person who arranged a meeting between Maria and Suswono during the campaign in Medan. The meeting, which took place in Luthfi’s room at the Aryaduta Hotel in January, was part of Luthfi’s attempt to lobby Suswono to help Indoguna.

 The company made several attempts to get an increased import quota of 8,000 tons in 2012, but Suswono repeatedly rejected its requests. The company later decided to ask for Luthfi’s help in persuading Suswono, the prosecutors said.

Rum said that Maria had initially asked Elda Devianne Adiningrat, an alleged broker in the case, to introduce her to Luthfi’s aide Ahmad, who told her how to acquire the increased quota. “Maria instructed Juard to file a request letter to the ministry in November 2012. The letter was sent by Juard and Elda to the ministry’s agricultural variety preservation head, Suharyono, who submitted it to Syukur Iwantoro, the ministry’s director general for animal husbandry,” Rum said.

Ahmad later met with Syukur, who introduced himself as an ustaj or a religious teacher, and asked the latter to grant Indoguna’s request. “The request, however, was once again refused by the ministry as it violated the ministry’s regulations,” Rum said.

The company then filed another request letter in the same month but to no avail, so Maria instructed Elda to approach Luthfi.

Luthfi agreed to help Maria and set up the meeting in Medan. “He asked Maria to bring data to present to Suswono. Elda then told Maria not to tell Luthfi’s staffers about the meeting,” the indictment continued.

On Jan. 11, Maria met with Suswono, Luthfi, Ahmad and Soewarso, during which Maria explained the need for an increased quota in 2013. Suswono dismissed Maria’s suggestion, saying that her data was invalid.

Back in Jakarta, Maria, Elda, Arya Abdi and Juard met Suswono’s subordinate, Suharyono, to obtain the increased quota. Suharyono, however, declined their request, saying he had received no orders from Suswono regarding an increased quota.

Ahmad then asked Maria and Arya to come up with Rp 1 billion to be paid to Luthfi to secure the company’s position with the ministry regarding the meat import quota. After Maria told Ahmad that the money was ready, he allegedly replied, “Thank you very much Ibu, I will pass on the good news to Pak Luthfi.”

Ahmad subsequently informed Luthfi about the money, but the KPK arrested him before he could pass it on to Luthfi.

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