Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Sabillilah Ardie, the special staff of the minister in charge of backward areas told the court the director of PT Papua Indah Perkasa Teddi Renyut paid for the cost of a number of politicians traveling abroad.

"They wanted to travel to Morocco, Greece and France. The minister was on official trip, and they followed," Sabilliah testified at the Jakarta anti corruption court here on Monday.

In earlier session, Teddi Renyut said he gave Rp290 million to pay for the tickets of Helmy Faishal Zaini, the minister in charge of backward areas and his entourage who made a tour of a number of countries .

"At that time Ardie asked me verbally . He threatened me unless he helped the minister would stay away of my project (in Talaud) for which I already spent Rp3.2 billion including project in Biak," Teddi told the court in earlier session on Sept. 15.

Presiding judge Artha Theresia read out Sabillilahs investigation report about the group of politicians taking part in the travel with fund from Teddi.

Artha asked Sabillilah to confirm that those included in the group that traveling abroad with the minister in charge of backward regions were Rasala Wiguna, Daniel Johan and Marwanda Dasopang - all three elected candidates for legislator of the Nation Awakening Party (PKB), Andi Ramli, a PKB Commission V legislator of PKB, Ragil , Lia and Monica, both relatives of the minister, and Bowo the aide of the minister.

Meanwhile, suspended regent of Biak Numfor Yesaya Sombuk said he regretted to have received a bribe of 100,000 Singaporean dollar from Teddi Renyut who was awarded a project to build a sea dyke in that district financed with a budget from the office of the minister in charge of backward areas in 2014.

"I very much regret hat I have made many people to fall victim. To God I confess," Yesaya told the court on Monday.

Yesaya was arrested on June 16 in 2014, after receiving S$63,000 from Teddi Renyut.

He admitted that he had asked for the money not as a loan from Teddy.

He said he needed the money to repay a loan he spent in pre election campaign.

He was only three months since he was installed regent when he was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Yesaya is facing a maximum 20 years in jail if found guilty with a fine of up to Rp1 billion.
(Uu.H-ASG/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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