Not The First Time Azis Syamsuddin Has Been Included In The Vortex Of Cases At The KPK

Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Parliament Azis Syamsuddin. (Photo: Instagram @ azissyamsuddin.korpolkam)

JAKARTA - The name of Deputy Speaker of the Indonesia Parliament Azis Syamsuddin was included in the vortex of the case termination of the bribery case that ensnared the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator AKP Stepanus Robin Pattuju.

He is said to have introduced the investigator from the police to the Mayor of Tanjung M Syahrial, who at that time was being investigated in connection with the bribery case of buying and selling positions.

However, Azis' name is not the first time he has been dragged into a corruption case that is being investigated by the KPK. Based on VOI's investigation, several cases have implicated the Golkar Party politician.

What are the cases?

Corruption cases in the procurement of a driving license (SIM) simulator project

In 2013, Azis, who served as Deputy Chairman of Commission III of Indonesia Parliament, was said to be involved in corruption in the procurement of SIM simulators. His involvement was conveyed by the Head of the AKBP SIM Simulator Project Procurement Committee Teddy Rusmawan, who was once ordered by the Head of Korlantas at that time, Inspector General Djoko Susilo.

During the trial, Teddy named Azis. According to him, he delivered four boxes of money to Indonesian Parliament members, particularly the Parliament of Banggar group.

Teddy also mentioned the names of Indonesia Parliament Commission III members besides Nazaruddin who he thought were given the funds, namely Bambang Soesatyo from the Golkar Party, Aziz Syamsuddin from the Golkar Party, Desmond Mahesa from the Gerindra Party, and Herman Heri from the PDI-Party.

At that time he was also questioned by KPK investigators. While asked about his involvement, he denied receiving the hot money.

Miryam S Haryani, a former member of Commission II of the Indonesia Parliament, is said to have threatened

In 2017, Azis was said to have threatened a key witness in the e-KTP megacorruption case who was also a former member of Commission II of the Indonesian Parliament Miryam S Haryani. This was revealed by the testimony of three KPK investigators, including Novel Baswedan, who was presented at the trial regarding the case.

There were a number of members of the Indonesia Parliament who were said to have threatened Miryam, they were Bambang Soesatyo, Aziz Syamsudin, Desmond J. Mahesa, Masinton Pasaribu, Syarifudin Suding and there was another member of Commission 3 whose name the investigators did not remember.

As for this bribery case, Miryam was one of the key witnesses to the giving and receiving of money related to the e-KTP case. He is the party who prepares a certain amount of money to be distributed.

Money is given in cash with envelopes that have been coded for each of them, which envelopes are for members, leaders and kapoksi.

Before distributing money, Miryam also admitted that he coordinated with the leader of Commission 2 at that time, Chaeruman Harahap. Coordination is carried out to ascertain how much money should be given to his colleagues in the Parliament.

Responding to this, Azis, who was a member of Commission III Indonesia Parliament and Chairman of the Indonesia Parliament Banggar, admitted that he was surprised at the testimony that said he threatened Miryam to withdraw the Investigation Report (BAP) in the case.

He emphasized that he had never spoken about testimony in the e-KTP case with Miryam.

"I also told Mr. Masinton that we have talked. I said I never met Mrs. Miryam and never spoke, but she said that in court", he said at the time.

This Golkar Party politician was shocked by Miryam's confession quoted by KPK senior investigator Novel Baswedan. Moreover, said Aziz, he never shared the same commission with the Hero of the Hanura Party.

"We have never been on a commission with Mrs. Miryam. We are also surprised that Mrs. Miryam stated something like that", he said, saying, if Miryam could not prove what she said then he could be threatened with the defamation article.

It has been said that he received $ 100 thousand in connection with the e-KTP corruption case

Furthermore, in 2018, Azis' name was again dragged down in the e-KTP megacorruption case. In the trial, Setya Novanto's nephew, who was then a defendant, Irvanto Hendra Pambudi, admitted that he once handed over $ 100,000 to Indonesia Parliament member Aziz Syamsuddin.

The money is suspected to have something to do with the electronic-based identity card (e-KTP) procurement project. "I will hand over $ 100,000 to Mr. Aziz Syamsuddin", he said.

According to Irvan, the handover of the money was ordered by businessman Andi Agustinus alias Andi Narogong. Meanwhile, the money was handed over at Aziz Syamsuddin's residence.

Meanwhile, when he was examined as a witness, Azis denied that he had ever received the money. "Until now, I am in Commission III, do not know about the e-KTP project and have never received anything from the e-KTP", said Aziz.

Furthermore, regarding his questioning with the defendant Irvanto, Aziz admitted that he knew Irvanto as the Golkar administrator and the nephew of Setya Novanto.

"Irvanto is a Golkar committee member, if I'm not mistaken the Deputy Head of General Treasury (Deputy General Treasurer). He is a relative of Setya Novanto. Since 2004 I have joined the DPD (Regional Representative Council), if I meet Mr. Setya Novanto, there is him (Irvanto)", said Aziz.

The judge also asked whether Aziz knew about Irvanto, who paid IDR 5 billion for the National Meeting of Families in Bogor, West Java. Hearing this question, Aziz answered that he didn't know.

Most recently, Azis's name has been sticking out again in the case of the termination of case investigation handled by the KPK. In this case, three people were named suspects and were detained.

They are KPK investigators from elements of the Bhayangkara Corps AKP Stepanus Robin Pattuju, Mayor of Tanjungbalai M Syahrial, and lawyer Maskur Husain.

Azis' involvement in this bribe began when he introduced Stepanus to M Syahrial, who was in a legal case related to the sale and purchase of positions in the Tanjungbalai City Government.

He allegedly knew Stepanus from his aide who was both from the Bhayangkara Corps.

"It is suspected that he knew the person concerned from AZ adjutant (Azis Syamsuddin) who is also a member of the National Police", said KPK spokesperson for prosecution Ali Fikri to VOI, Friday, April 23.

However, this allegation will still be investigated further. Of course, this entails summoning these politicians.

"Later it will be further explored at the stage of examination at the investigation", he said.

The meeting between Azis, Stepanus, and M Syahrial took place in October 2020. The beginning of this collusion took place at the official residence occupied by Azis.

This meeting and introduction was suspected because M Syahrial had legal problems and was still at the level of investigation. Furthermore, to make sure that the case did not go up to the investigation, M Syahrial bribed Stepanus for IDR 1.3 billion.

ICW asked the KPK to investigate the relationship between Stepanus and Azis

Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher Kurnia Ramadhana urged the KPK to investigate the relationship between Stepanus and Azis. This is because the meeting that took place in October 2020 felt strange, especially after it was discovered that the meeting took place at Azis Syamsuddin's official residence.

"Was it their first meeting or had they communicated before?", asked Kurnia in his written statement.

Not only that, Kurnia also questioned the security of information about the corruption case investigation at the KPK. Because, he wondered how Azis Syamsudin knew if there was a case being investigated by the KPK.

"In this case it must be answered, how does he know that the KPK is conducting an investigation into allegations of corruption in Tanjungbalai", said the anti-corruption activist.

Kurnia suspects that information has leaked from the internal anti-graft commission regarding this investigation. This, he said, needs to be investigated further.

"The KPK must immediately issue an investigation warrant on the suspicion of Article 15 of the Corruption Eradication Law which regulates assistance in the Corruption case", he concluded.