Ex-KPK Investigator Stepanus 'Case Broker' Denies Accepting Money From Azis Syamsuddin, But Admits Other Receipts

JAKARTA - Former investigator of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Stepanus Robin Pattuju denied receiving money from Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Azis Syamsuddin and a private sector named Aliza Gunado related to the bribery case in Central Lampung.

This was conveyed at the Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor) during the trial reading of the indictment.

"Regarding brothers Azis Syamsuddin and Aliza Gunado, I did not receive any money from them," said Stepanus after the indictment was read out, Monday, September 13.

Even so, he admitted that he had received money from a number of parties. Including the former Kutai Regent Kertanegara Rita Widyasari and the inactive Tanjungbalai Mayor M Syahrial.

Upon receiving the money, Stepanus said he regretted being a case broker at the KPK. He apologized for defrauding a number of litigants in the anti-corruption commission.

"I apologize for what I did to the KPK and to my institution, the National Police. I am very sorry and realize that I made a mistake in deceiving and deceiving many parties in this case," he said.

As previously reported, Stepanus was charged with a lawyer named Maskur Husein who was a colleague of his. They are suspected of accepting bribes related to the handling of the ongoing corruption case.

"The defendant received a gift or promise in the form of money in the total amount of Rp. 11,025,077,000.00 and US$ 36,000 or at least that amount," said the prosecutor reading the indictment in the trial at the Corruption Court, Monday, September 13.

In the indictment, it was stated that there were at least three cases that turned out to be Azis Syamsuddin's name. First, in the bribery case of buying and selling positions that ensnared the inactive Tanjungbalai Mayor M Syahrial in which the Golkar Party politician acted as an intermediary.

The second case relates to the Central Lampung Special Allocation Fund (DAK) in which he gave bribes of Rp. 3 billion and US$ 36 thousand. Lastly, the alleged corruption case of the Regent of Kutai Kertanegara Rita Widyasari in which he played a role in introducing Stepanus before bribes were given.

For his actions, Stepanus was later charged with Article 11 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1 and Article 65 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.