VIVAnews - Report has it that the case involving chiefs of the Indonesian anti-graft commission Bibit Samad Riyanto and Chandra Hamzah is believed as a setup deliberately prepared to criminalize the leaders of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
During a meeting which discussed about a design on how to map out the scenario, the Indonesian president's name was mentioned.
Fugitive of a corruption case Anggoro Widjojo called for a legal protection from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono by sending the request directly to the presidential office.
"We asked the president to grant us legal protection," said Anggoro's lawyer Bonaran Situmeang on Tuesday, Oct 27.
Bonaran said his client sought for protection as a witness in line with the alleged case of integrated communication radio system supply committed at the forestry ministry.
According to Bonaran, the petition was brought along immediately by the team of lawyers to the Presidential Palace.
Was Anggoro under threat? "Yes, he was," said Bonaran. However, he declined to bring the information in detail.
Earlier, Bonaran conceded that the report he tried to send to the Indonesian president was tapped by the anti-graft commission. He emphasized that the president's name was indeed hinted at during his conversation with Anggoro.
"The president's name was suggested in line with the legal protection letter. Anggodo wanted to make sure whether or not the letter for the president was done," he said.
Anggoro was named suspect as of June 19, 2009. Anggoro allegedly violated Article 5 section (1) or Article 13 of Law No.31/1999 on Corruption Eradication.
Anggoro's involvement was earlier unveiled during a court session on a bribery case of Tanjung Api-api project having Yusuf Erwin sat as the defendant. In the trial, Yusuf Erwin was charged of having received Rp 125 million and US$220 thousand as a compensation over expediting the approval over the budgeting on reforestation and land-rehabilitation program.
The forestry ministry which at that time was helmed by Malam Sambat Kaban proposed Rp 180 billion of budget.
Being informed about the proposal, Yusuf Erwin called on Muchtarrudin to set up a meeting with the representative of PT Masaro Radiokom, Anggoro Widjojo as a partner in supplying the communication devices. The meeting aimed at figuring the fee that will be channelled to the forestry commission.
The budget was approved on June 16, 2007. The legalization form was signed by minister Kaban, who has been queried by KPK.
In addition to bribing Yusuf Erwin, Anggoro also was suspected of buying off other members of forestry commission at the House of Representatives (DPR) like Fahri Andi Leluasa by Sin$30 thousand, Azwar Chesputera Sin$30 thousand, Hilman Indra Sin$140 thousand, Muchtarrudin Sin$40 thousand and Sujud Sirajuddin Rp 20 million.
PT Masaro Radiokom teamead up with the forestry department in the integrated communication radio system supply. The case was revealed as KPK raided the office of Yusuf Erwin.
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Translated by: Bonardo Maulana Wahono
