KPK should question Ibas, Anas says

JAKARTA. Former Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum said on Wednesday that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) should question Edhie “Ibas” Baskoro Yudhoyono in regard to allegations that the party’s 2010 convention in Bandung was awash with illicit money.

“Mas Ibas is the head of the steering committee for the convention. If the KPK wants to know about the convention, Ibas should be questioned,” he said after undergoing questioning in connection to the Hambalang graft scandal.

Anas, who resigned from his post after being named a suspect by the KPK last year, added that Ibas, the youngest son of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and PD secretary-general, was also a member of Andi Mallarangeng’s campaign team. Andi lost his bid to Anas.

The KPK has questioned a number of PD politicians to confirm allegations that illicit money circulated at the Bandung convention.

Yulianis, a key witness in various graft cases involving former PD treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin, has claimed that Ibas accepted a US$200,000 bribe from Nazaruddin’s Permai Group, where Yulianis used to be the deputy financial director. The money allegedly came from state funds for the Hambalang sports complex project and was used to finance the convention.

Ibas has denied Yulianis’ allegations and accused her of lying. He has also filed a police report against her for slander.