KPK GRILLS TWO LEGISLATORS AS WITNESSES IN BRIBERY CASE

Jakarta, April 16 (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Thursday grilled two House of Representatives (DPR) members as witnesses in a bribery case related to pier construction projects in eastern Indonesia, a spokesman said.

The two legislators were Rama Pratama of the Prosperous Justice Party (KPK) and Hasto Kristianto of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), KPK spokesman Johan Budi said.

Tens of journalists who missed the arrival of the two legislators at the KPK office, waited for them to get their statements after being grilled by the KPK.

KPK had earlier arrested legislator Abdul Hadi Djamal, Transportation Ministry employee Darmawati and businessman Hontjo Kurniawan in the same case.

KPK agents had found Rp54.5 million and US$90,000 in cash when arresting them. The money was allegedly used to bribe legislators in relation with the pier construction projects in eastern Indonesia.

Abdul Hadi said his arrest was related to a meeting between several legislators and officials of the finance ministry at Four Seasons Hotel, in Jakarta, on February 19, 2009.

The meeting was to discuss a planned increase of the 2009 fiscal stimulus budget for infrastructure from Rp10.2 trillion to Rp12.2 trillion.

Other law makers who had been grilled by KPK concerning the bribery case were Jhonny Allen, Enggartiasto Lukita, and Emir Moeis.