PKS patron questioned over beef case

JAKARTA. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned on Tuesday Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chief patron Hilmi Aminuddin as a witness in the beef import graft case.

Hilmi, who is also the leader of the PKS’ religious council, finally answered the KPK summons after failing to show up on several previous occasions.

After being grilled for about four hours, he declined to respond to reporters’ questions regarding his alleged involvement in the case, as well as the role played by a woman named Bunda Putri, who is said to be close to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Hilmi’s son, Ridwan Hakim, said in court on Monday that Bunda Putri was married to Hasanuddin Ibrahim, the current Agriculture Ministry’s horticulture director general.

A key witness, Elda Devianne Adiningrat, previously testified that Hilmi took part in the planning of a scheme to use kickbacks from meat import company PT Indoguna Utama to pay for PKS election campaigns.

Hilmi is alleged to have devised the scheme at a meeting last year in Lembang, West Java, which was attended by PKS leader and Agriculture Minister Suswono, former PKS chairman Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq and Luthfi’s aide, Ahmad Fathanah.