‘Dangdut’ singer questioned in Akil’s case

JAKARTA. Rya Fitria, a dangdut singer rumored to have a special relationship with former Constitutional Court chief justice and graft suspect Akil Mochtar, was questioned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Thursday.

Speaking after the questioning, Rya responded to the allegation that she had received up to Rp 900 million (US$79,200) from Akil, who has also been charged with money laundering, over a five year span.

She admitted that she received a number of payments from Akil for singing gigs. The singer, however, said she had forgotten the total amount of payments she had received.

“Because it was often, I do not know. I forget,” she told reporters at KPK headquarters in Kuningan, South Jakarta.Rya added that she did not make a record of the payments from Akil because she did not have a manager.

She said had she received payments from Akil from 2007 until 2013 and that she was paid Rp 4 million per gig.

In response to the rumors that she is close to Akil, Rya said her relationship with him was purely professional.

Two other dangdut singers, Evie Tamala and Iis Dahlia, also received payments from Akil for singing during his campaigning for the 2007 West Kalimantan governorship.