Member of DPR Caught Taking Bribe
Thursday, 10 April, 2008 | 17:55 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Commission to Eradicate Corruption (KPK) caught a member of the House of Representatives (DPR), Al Amin Nur Nasution, receiving a bribe from Bintan, Riau regional secretary Azirwan, yesterday in Jakarta. Al Amin was questioned up to last night by an investigative team of the Commission. “We arrested both of them,” said Commission head, Antasari Azhar.

The Commission also examined Azirwan, Al Amin's secretary, Nur Nasution; Azirwan's driver, and a woman. Azirwan is also head of accelerated development team for Bintan city.

The investigative team confiscated Rp 71 million. “Al Amin was actually promised Rp 3 billion,” said M. Yasin, deputy of the Commission to Tempo.

A member of the United Development Party (PPP) is alleged absolve a 7,300 hectare of land in Bintan Buyu, Bintan district, Riau archipelago. The land, which is a protected forest, is to be used for the capital city of Bintan . “It is true,” Antasari said.

Bintan Buyu has been determined by the Forestry Minister as a catchment area. A meeting by the House Commission IV for forestry and agriculture is needed to cancel that decision.

To shorten the procedure, Bintan officials are alleged to have bribed Al Amin. “We have this information from the local community,” said Antasari.

The investigator then found out a plan for a bribery transaction at the Hotel Ritz Carlton in Jakarta.

The attorney for Al Amin, Sira Prayuna, said that her client is being asked for information. “Amin hasn’t said much to me, he just said that he was caught at the Ritz Carlton by the Commission,” she said.

There has not been an inspection of Al Amin's house at Jalan Walang Timur 27-A Tugu Utara village, Koja district, North Jakarta and at the DPR house complex in Kalibata South Jakarta. They looked empty.

People talk about this case in Bintan. “The government functions as usual,” said Irianto, head of public relations in Bintan regional government. “We have not had clear information about it.”

Azirwan's family said they have not heard from Azirwan and do not know what actually happened to him. “I am still finding out,” said Azlaini Agus, Azirwan's brother.

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