KPK wants 4.5 years for Indoguna Utama boss

JAKARTA. Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors on Tuesday demanded a four-and-a-half-year prison term for Maria Elizabeth Liman, the owner and president director of meat importers PT Indoguna Utama, for her role in a corruption case surrounding meat import quotas at the Agriculture Ministry.

“We call on the panel of judges to sentence the defendant to four years and six months in prison and to pay Rp 200 million [US$17,359] in restitution or serve another four months in prison,” prosecutor Irene Putri said at the Jakarta Corruption Case on Tuesday.

Prosecutors said Maria should be found guilty of bribing former Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chairman Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq Rp 1.3 billion to use his influence to coax Agriculture Minister Suswono, a PKS politician, into increasing the beef import quota for Indoguna.

Luthfi was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his crimes.

The Rp 1.3 billion bribe, which was given through Luthfi’s aide Ahmad Fathanah, was part of the Rp 40 billion pledged by Indoguna if Luthfi helped to increase the beef import quota to 10,000 tons for Indoguna.

The Jakarta Corruption Court also sentenced Fathanah to 14 years behind bars in the case. Later, the Jakarta High Court increased his sentence to 16 years.

Maria was dragged into the case when Luthfi’s lawyers revealed that their client met with Maria, Suswono, Fathanah and former chairwoman of the Indonesian Seedling Association (Asbenindo) Elda Devianne Adiningrat at the Arya Duta Hotel in Medan on Jan. 10 and 11, 2013, to discuss meat prices.

Prosecutor Irene said Maria had asked for Fathanah’s help to introduce her to Luthfi to obtain his
help to coax Suswono. Before meeting with Fathanah, Indoguna’s requests on the beef import quota were always rejected by the ministry.

Elda remains free, with her status only as a witness, although her role was central in the case. Initially, it was Elda who introduced Maria to Fathanah, then he later connected Maria to Luthfi.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said the KPK would not stop at Maria, adding that the investigation into the beef scandal was still going to look for the role of other parties. “The investigation has not stopped,” Johan said.

Maria founded Indoguna in 1982. Starting with only five employees, the company has grown into a leading meat importer with more than 1,000 employees and subsidiaries all over the world.

Meanwhile, the KPK has also questioned Suswono in the case.

The company’s track record has not always been clean. In 2011, irregularities were found with Indoguna’s import license. (Haeril Halim)