Atut Case Will not Significantly Affect Golkar: Agung

Makassar, S Sulawesi (Antara) - Golkar Party Deputy Chairman Agung Laksono said the corruption case which involved Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah would not significantly affect Golkar. "It may have effect, but it will only take place on the regional level in Banten," Agung said, on the sidelines of the commemoration of National Social Solidarity Day here on Saturday. Agung, who is also a chief minister for people's welfare, noted that the case that befell Atut, a Golkar cadre, was a personal case, not a case involving the Golkar party. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Atut as a suspect in a corruption case, and has detained her. Governor of Banten province Ratu Atut Chosiyah was detained on Friday, after being questioned as suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission. "She is detained at Pondok Bambu for the first 20 days," stated KPK spokesman Johan Budi, adding, "The detention has occurred due to certain subjective reasons stated by the investigators." KPK has named Ratu Atut as suspect, based on an order from the investigators, for allegedly violating Law Number 31 of 1999 which was later changed to Law Number 20 of 2001, according to which any person who gives or promises to give a judge something to influence his or her ruling over a case can be sentenced to between three and 15 years of imprisonment and fined Rp150 to Rp750 million. KPK chairman Abraham Samad has stated that Atut, along with her brother Tubagus Chaeri Wardana alias Wawan, allegedly paid Rp1 billion as a bribe to former Constitutional Court Chief Justice Akil Mochtar, through lawyer Susi Tur Andayani, who has also been named suspect in this case. KPK pointed out that Atut was supposedly involved in a corruption case linked to health equipment procurement worth Rp30 billion. (*)