KPK to probe Muhaimin’s ‘close aides’

Jakarta, NU Online
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) anti-graft body said Saturday that it would probe two politicians alleged to be close aides of Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar over their involvement in a corruption case at the minister’s office.

Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) acting spokesperson Priharsa Nugraha told The Jakarta Post that the commission would send its second summons to Ahmad Fauzi and Ali Mudhori, who are members of the National Awakening Party (PKB), led by Muhaimin. The two failed to answer the first summons. “We will reschedule and summon them for our questioning. We need their testimonies for our investigation,” Priharsa said.

KPK deputy chairman M. Jasin said that their testimonies were necessary in the case that has put the minister under media scrutiny.

Ali dodged KPK questioning on Friday without providing any information over his absence, while Fauzi also ignored the KPK’s call for questioning as a case witness on Wednesday. The KPK listed him as a witness from the private sector.

Muhaimin’s National Awakening Party (PKB) cadre Lily Wahid, who is the sister of former president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid, agreed with the KPK, saying that testimonies from the two were needed to solve the case.

“Of course the KPK must question them. They have valuable information related to the case,” Lily said on Saturday. “Both Fauzi and Ali are ‘close aides’ to Muhaimin, despite whether or not they both have formal positions at the ministry.”

Lily, who was recently dismissed from the party’s executive board for disregarding party policies, added that Fauzi and Ali have been friends with Muhaimin for years. “Especially Fauzi, he often had lunch at Muhaimin’s office back then.”

In a recent meeting with the House of Representatives, Muhaimin clarified he knew nothing about the case. He insisted that Fauzi and Ali were merely secretariat generals at the PKB headquarters who had no connection with the ministry.

He said he did not believe they took initiatives to help PT Alam Jaya Papua — where Dharanawati works — to win the projects in West Papua, because he had never informed or discussed the budget for the infrastructure projects with the two.

The KPK searched the houses of the three suspects on Friday afternoon to search for more evidence. The KPK raided the house of Dharnawati and the houses of two ministry officials, I Nyoman Suisnaya and Dadong Irbarelawan. (dar)