"Today KPK detained IEM (Izederick Emir Moeis) after grilling him over a corruption case linked to gifts or pledges made in connection with the construction of the Tarahan coal-fired power plant in 2004," KPK spokesman Johan Budi said here on Thursday.
IEM, who is from the Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle was held at a KPK detention center in Guntur for 20 days, he said.
Emir Moeis left the KPK office at 6.15pm but gave no statement about his case.
Johan said KPK had charged him with violating Article 12 point a or b or Article 5 or 11 of Law Number 31 of 1999 which was later changed into Law Number 20 of 2001 on corruption.
The articles are about a state official receiving a bribe or gratification carrying a sentence of up to life in prison or minimally four years and maximally 20 years in jail and a fine of between Rp200 million to Rp1 billion.
KPK believed Emir Moeis received US$300,000 in bribes from PT AI (Alsthom Indonesia) whose parent company is in France in connection with the PLTU Tarahan power project in Lampung, Sumatra.
The chairman of the House of Representatives` Commission XI has also been banned to travel abroad.
Johan said KPK has cooperated with a law enforcement agency in the US to unveil the case.
"KPK has cooperated with US Department of Justice in its efforts to collect information from a number of foreigners who are not domiciled in Indonesia," he said.
He said the case was still being developed to see possible involvement of other persons.
"Regarding the briber, investigators have already had information," he added.
He explained if the briber is a foreign national and stays abroad he cannot be charged under the Indonesian corruption law.
"No foreigner who lives outside Indonesia has ever been charged with the corruption law. With regard to that KPK would use a mutual legal assistance scheme," Johan said.
Emir Moeis`s lawyer Yanuar Wasesa said KPK had not found facts that Emir had received bribes.
"It is bullshit if they said they had found facts during Emir Moeis` questioning. Nothing. It was only an hour long ask and answer session," he said after accompanying Moeis during the questioning.
Johan however said that KPK had already had evidence to name Emir Moeis suspect.
"One may be named suspect after two pieces of evidence or more are found. Indeed there will still be testimonies from witnesses to confirm them," he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
