Being A Witness In The Case Of Stepanus 'Case Broker', Could Azis Syamsuddin Fulfill The KPK's Summons?

Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian House of Representatives M. Azis Syamsuddin. (Photo: Oji/Man via www.dpr.go.id)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has finally summoned the Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Azis Syamsuddin, as a witness in the bribery case that ensnared his former investigator, Stepanus Robin Pattuju. This is a re-summon after he was not present with the excuse that he could not leave his busy life.

Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement Ali Fikri said KPK investigators would again summon Azis on Wednesday, June 9. The Golkar Party politician was summoned to complete the case file of Stepanus, the case broker, and other suspects in this case.

"It's true, Wednesday, June 9, 2021, the KPK investigator team is scheduled to summon Azis Syamsuddin, Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives as a witness in the case on behalf of the suspect SRP et al," Ali told reporters, Tuesday, June 8.

This summons, continued Ali, was carried out because he was suspected of knowing the series of events in this bribery case. Where Stepanus received a bribe from the Mayor of Tanjungbalai M Syahrial to stop the investigation into the corruption case of buying and selling positions that dragged his name.

"Witnesses are parties who are suspected of knowing the series of events in the case so that their statements are needed to make it clearer about the alleged actions of the suspects in this case," he said

Ali asked Azis to cooperate and fulfill the investigator's summons. Moreover, the summons has been properly sent by the anti-corruption commission.

"We urge cooperative witnesses to attend to fulfill the summons," he said.

So, will Azis fulfill the KPK's call?

This Golkar Party politician was never present when he was summoned as a witness in this case. However, Azis has confirmed that he will follow the entire process of investigating this bribery case.

This was conveyed by him after being summoned as a witness in the ethics trial held by the KPK Supervisory Board against Stepanus Robin Pattuju.

"I'm just following the existing process," he said briefly to reporters at the ACLC KPK Building, Jalan Rasuna Said, South Jakarta, last Tuesday, May 25.

Azis' name is included in the vortex of the KPK investigator's bribery case, because he is said to be the party who introduced Stepanus to the Mayor of Tanjungbalai M Syahrial. This acquaintance led to an evil agreement between the two.

In fact, at that time Syahrial became a litigant in the case of buying and selling positions in the Tanjungbalai City Government. This introduction took place at the official residence of the Golkar Party politician.

The case began after the KPK named its investigators, Stepanus Robin Pattuju, a lawyer named Maskur Husain, and the Mayor of Tanjungbalai M. Syahrial as suspects in the alleged bribery case handling the sale and purchase of positions at the Tanjungbalai City Government.

Stepanus Robin Pattuju and Maskur Husain are suspected of having received bribes from M. Syahrial of Rp 1.3 billion from an agreement of Rp 1.5 billion. The bribe was given so that Stepanus would help stop the investigation into the alleged sale and purchase of positions in Tanjungbalai, which the KPK is currently investigating.

In addition to bribes from Syahrial, Maskur Husain is also suspected of receiving Rp 200 million from other parties. Meanwhile, Stepanus from October 2020 to April 2021 was also suspected of receiving money from other parties through bank account transfers in the name of Riefka Amalia, amounting to Rp438 million.