Anti-Graft Commision Questions Akil Mochtar's Wife

Jakarta (Antara) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) here on Tuesday questioned the wife of suspended Constitutional Court Chief Akil Mochtar, who was temporarily dismissed from his position for allegedly receiving bribe money. "Ratu Rita Akil is being questioned as a witness for her husband Akil Mochtar," anti-graft commission's Chief of the Information Division Priharsa Nugraha said here on Tuesday. Ratu arrived at the KPK building at around 10:30 a.m., accompanied by Akil's lawyer, Tamsil Sjoekoer. She did not make any comment on the summons for interrogation. Akil Mochtar was arrested on Oct. 2 after being caught red-handed receiving bribe money worth $US260 thousand from a Golkar party lawmaker named CHN and a businessman called CN. The bribery case is thought to be linked to the regional election in Gunung Mas District, Central Kalimantan Province. Mochtar is also suspected of having received bribes from another party in connection with the regional election in the Lebak district of the Banten province. Akil is said to have received bribe money from Tubagus Chaeri Wardhana---the half brother of Banten Province's current governor, Ratu Atut. Wardhana, who is now in police custody, is said to have bribed Akil Mochtar in exchange for the latter's decision to grant an appeal made by Amir Hamzah from the Golkar party, one of the candidates vying for the post of the Lebak district chief, to redo the regional election in the Lebak district. (*) Reporting by Desca Lidya Natalia Translating and Editing by Amie Fenia Arimbi