Atut bribery trial gets underway

JAKARTA. The trial of Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah, who stands accused of playing a role in bribing former Constitutional Court chief justice Akil Mochtar, is set to begin Tuesday.

Atut and her brother Tubagus Chaeri “Wawan” Wardana, who was also indicted in the case, allegedly paid Rp 1 billion (US$87,000) to Akil in exchange for a favorable court ruling for Lebak deputy regent Amir Hamzah in an election dispute case.

The two siblings are also suspects in another case regarding the procurement of medical equipment by the South Tangerang regency and Banten provincial administrations.

“Tomorrow’s trial session is for the Lebak case. As for graft in the procurement of medical equipment, we have yet to finish our investigation,” said Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) spokesman Priharsa Nugraha.

Earlier, the KPK said it would step up its investigation into the medical equipment case to determine if Atut had laundered money she allegedly amassed from the procurement projects. The KPK has already charged Wawan with money laundering in the case.

Commenting on the beginning of his client’s trial, Atut’s lawyer Tubagus Sukatma said, “Ibu Atut is ready to stand trial tomorrow.”

The Banten governor is being charged under Article 6 of Law No. 31/1999 on corruption for her alleged role in the bribery case. The article carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

Atut has also been implicated in another allegedly rigged local election dispute case, after the indictment of Akil — who has also been charged in the Lebak case for which Atut now stands trial — revealed that in October 2011 the disgraced justice asked Wawan to wire money to CV Ratu Samagat, a company “owned” by Akil’s wife, in exchange for a favorable ruling in a Banten election dispute that saw Atut win reelection as governor.

Political observer and anti-corruption campaigner from Banten’s Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University Dahnil Anzar on Monday urged the KPK to charge Atut with money laundering.

Dahnil said that Atut allegedly used her powerful position in the province to help rig several government projects worth billions of rupiah.

“I am sure that if the KPK charges her with money laundering then it will uncover other parties involved in the alleged crimes, such as Atut’s family members, local politicians and local businessmen in Banten,” Dahnil said.

“The money laundering charge is very important to reveal other corruption crimes allegedly committed by Atut’s dynasty,” Dahnil added.

It has been alleged that Atut, the country’s first female governor, built a powerful and corrupt political dynasty in the province, with members of her family installed in key public positions.

Members of her family control five of Banten’s eight regencies and municipalities. Her daughter-in-law, Wawan’s wife, Airin Rachmi Diany is the South Tangerang mayor; her stepbrother Tubagus Haerul Jaman is mayor of Serang; her sister Tatu Chasanah is Serang deputy regent; and her stepmother Heryani is Pandeglang deputy regent. All of them are Golkar Party politicians.

Despite corruption allegations and Atut’s arrest, her dynasty in the province remains intact, with the Banten General Elections Commission (KPUD) recently announcing that Atut’s son Andhika Hazrumy and daughter Andara Aprilia Hikmat won more votes than any other candidates in the province in the April 9 legislative election.

“Atut’s son and daughter-in-laws were also elected as local legislators in Banten. Atut’s family remains strong, although media exposure has widely exposed her graft case after her arrest last year,” Dahnil said. (Haeril Halim)