Deputy House Sepaker Concerned about Anas Detention

Surabaya (Antara) - Deputy House Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso said he was saddened by former chairman of the ruling Democratic Party Anas Urbaningrum being detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for alleged involvement in a corruption case. "Of course, as a colleague and close friend, I am sad and concerned about Anas Urbaningrum," he said here on Saturday. Priyo, of the Golkar Party faction in the House of Representatives (DPR), said he has no plans to visit Anas in the near future. "When Anas was named as a suspect and resigned from his party, as a close friend I went to his residence at Duren Sawit (East Jakarta) to give him moral support," he said. On Friday, Anas was detained by the KPK after several hours of interrogation, in connection with his alleged involvement in a corruption case. The interrogation was conducted by the KPK after Anas was subpoenaed for the third time. Anas failed to respond to the first two summonses on July 31, 2013 and January 7, 2014. On February 22, 2012, Anas was named a suspect on charges of violating several articles of corruption laws for accepting bribes or gifts, which carry a sentence of four to 20 years and a fine of Rp200 million to Rp1 billion. In July 2013, KPK Chief Abraham Samad remarked that the other projects, apart from Hambalang, in which Anas was implicated were a solar power plant project of the Ministry of Manpower and a university project of the Ministry of Education. He added that the KPK was investigating Anas' alleged involvement in the two projects. In addition to that, he noted that the KPK was also probing the alleged flow of funds from state-owned companies in supporting Anas in winning the party's leadership in a congress in Bandung in 2010. Priyo said he could not offer any suggestion with regard to Anas' case. But he praised the former chief of the Democratic Party for his cooperation in the ongoing legal process. "It is up to the court to decide his case. That is the most important thing. We are all convinced the KPK has been working professionally and fairly," he said. (*)