Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has questioned Heru Budi Hartono, head of Jakartas Regional Financial and Asset Management Board (BPKAD), over an alleged bribery case linked to the reclamation project in North Jakartas coastal area.

Heru, who is also the running mate of Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) in the next Jakarta gubernatorial election (2017), was questioned as a witness in an alleged bribery before the Jakarta Legislative Assembly (DPRD) over a deliberation of draft bylaws on the zoning plan for Jakartas coastal areas and small isles for the 2015 to 2035 period and on the spatial plan for strategic North Jakarta coastal area.

"Heru was grilled in his capacity as the head of the BPKAD of Jakarta. The questioning was aimed at knowing the chronology of the issuance of the bylaws," the head of the Publication of KPK, Priharsa Nugraha, said on Thursday.

He said the KPK wanted to know the process of the issuance of bylaws and the chronology for their deliberations. "Questions focus on the deliberations of the bylaws," he added.

Priharsa also said the KPK might possibly question Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama. "It depends on the need of the investigation process, if need be, he would be summoned," he said.

Regarding the alleged bribery case linked to the Jakarta reclamation project, the KPK is still focusing on its alleged bribe aspect, including how the private sector is involved in the project.

A big business leader has been prohibited from leaving the country over the alleged corruption case linked to Jakarta Bay's reclamation.

"It is true the KPK has sent a letter to the Directorate General of Immigration of the Ministry of Justice to prohibit Sugianto Kusuma, starting April 1, to leave the country for the next six months," KPK acting Spokesperson Yuyuk Andriati said on Sunday.

KPK has prohibited Sugianto Kusuma alias Aguan Sugianto, who is a top executive of the Agung Sedayu Group in connection with the alleged case of bribery linked to the process of the draft bylaw on Jakarta Bay reclamation.

PT Kapuk Naga Indah, the subsidiary of the Agung Sedayu Group, has been known as one of the two developers that have received a permit to carry out reclamation at the Jakarta Bay. The other company that has also received the permit is PT Muara Wisesa Samudera, the subsidiary of the Agung Podomoro Group.

KPK has already named the President Director of PT Agung Podomoro, Ariesman Widjaja, as a suspect who is said to have paid Rp2 billion in bribes to the Chairman of the Gerindra Party faction in the Jakarta Legislative Assembly, Mohamad Sanusi, in connection with deliberation of draft bylaws on zoning plan for Jakartas coastal area and small isles for the 2015 to 2035 period and on the spatial plans for the strategic North Jakarta coastal area.

KPK on Thursday, March 31 had confiscated evidence in the form of cash worth Rp1.14 billion out of a total of Rp2 billion commitment that has been paid by Ariesman to Sanusi through PT Agung Podomoro Lands personal assistant Trinanda Prihantoro. The draft bylaws have been discussed for the past several months but the Jakarta provincial government and the Jakarta legislative assembly still failed to reach an agreement over them.

The Jakarta provincial government has demanded a contribution of 15 percent of the sales value of the effective land from reclamation reaching 58 percent of the total area.

A number of the lawmakers meanwhile have demanded a smaller contribution totaling only 5 percent.

So far, no confirmation has been given about whether Sugianto has also bribed Sanusi or other lawmakers.

Sanusi, if proven guilty will face a prison sentence of up to 20 years and a fine of up to Rp1 billion, while Ariesman Widjaja will get five years and a fine of maximally Rp250 million.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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