"Anas was questioned by the KPK investigators in the presence of his lawyers, Carrel Ticualu and Handika Onggowongso. He is still being interrogated," the KPK spokesman Johan Budi stated at his office this afternoon.
He remarked that as of 6 p.m. local time, the investigations were still ongoing. He concurrently denied the earlier claim of Anass other lawyer, Adnan Buyung Nasution, that his client will not respond to any questions posed by the investigators, as the order for his investigation lacked clarity due to the presence of words such as "other projects."
The senior lawyer noted that his client did not have a clear understanding in regard to the KPKs investigation.
Adnan had sought clarification from the KPK regarding the use of words such "other projects" mentioned in the summon order. Till the time the KPK furnished an explanation on the matter, his client will remain silent, he added.
Meanwhile, Johan Budi claimed that the KPK was not entitled to suggest that the suspect change his lawyers due to their differences in dealing with their clients point of view.
"We have no capacity to change his lawyers. It is entirely the right and will of the suspect," he noted.
Johan suggested that lawyers, including Adnan Buyung Nasution, must offer positive advice for the sake of law enforcement in Indonesia.
"As a law enforcer, lawyers should give positive advice with regard to law enforcement," he stated.
Due to Anass political background, the corruption case has drawn significant public attention in the country.
Anas was named a graft suspect on February 22, 2012, based on the Article 12 Paragraph A or B or Article 11 of Law Number 31 of 1999, which was amended to Law Number 20 of 2001 on corruption eradication in conjunction with the Article 55 Paragraph 1 Point 1 of the Criminal Code.
The articles are applicable to state officials receiving bribes or grafts, which carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment between four and 20 years along with a fine of Rp200 million to Rp1 billion.
Deddy Kusdinar, the former head of financial and household bureau of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, was charged for making a commitment in the sports complex project in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java, in which Anas allegedly received Rp2.21 billion worth of bribe, in stages, between the period of April 19, 2010 and December 6, 2010. Anas intended to use the money for supporting his bid to win the partys chairmanship in 2010.
The money was given to Anas for making payments at hotels, buying Blackberry phones and their cards, renting cars for Anass supporters in the congress, and for other entertainment purposes.
(A061/H-YH/INE/H-YH)
EDITED BY INE
(KR-BSR/H-YH)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
