Anas Says Ready to be Arrested in Bribery Case

Jakarta (Antara) - Former Chairman of the ruling Democrat Party Anas Urbaningrum said he is prepared to be arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) over bribery allegations. This follows the recent arrest of another party member, as well as former Minister for Youth and Sports Andi Malaranggeng, by the KPK. "I am 1,000 percent ready," Anas said. Last February, the KPK named Anas as a suspect for allegedly receiving a bribe during the construction of the Hambalang Sports Center in West Java, which is the same investigation that resulted in Andi Malaranggeng¿s currently being detained in KPK's detention center. However, Anas has not yet being arrested. In the alleged corruption case involving the Hambalang sports complex development, Anas was named a suspect on February 22, 2013 on charges of violating Article 12, Letter A or Letter B, or Article 11 Law No. 31/1999 as already amended by Law No. 20 / 2001 on state officials who took bribes, or gratifications. This case is punishable by a life sentence or a jail term of 4 to 20 years and a fine of Rp200 million to Rp1 billion. Anas was among those charged in having received a Toyota Harrier, which was confiscated by the KPK in March 2013, though the car has been entrusted to its last owner. KPK Chairman Abraham Samad said the detention and examination of Hambalang suspects was carried out based upon the dates of their being named as suspects. In the Hambalang corruption case, the KPK has named three suspects, including former sports and youth affairs minister Andi Mallarangeng in his capacity as user of the funds, former planning bureau chief of the ministry of youth and sports affairs Deddy Kusdinar, who was the planning officer when the Hambalang project was implemented, and former operations director 1 of PT Adhi Karya, Teuku Bagus Mukhamad Noor. (*)