Azis Syamsuddin's Confession In Court: Admits To Giving Rp. 200 Million In Money Loans To Ex-KPK Investigators

Azis Syamsuddin in a teleconference connection to the trial of the Tanjungbalai mayor's bribery case (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Azis Syamsuddin admitted to providing a loan of Rp. 200 million to former KPK investigator Stepanus Robinson Pattuju.

"Not asking but borrowing, the loan at that time was exactly at his (Robin's) request of Rp. 200 million or Rp. 150 million," said Azis Syamsuddin in a hearing which was held via a video conference connection, quoted by Antara, Monday, July 26.

Azis Syamsuddin became a witness for the defendant Tanjungbalai Mayor Muhammad Syahrial, who was charged with bribing Stepanus Robinson Pattuju for Rp. 1.695 billion, so as not to raise the case of alleged corruption to the investigation level.

The trial was conducted via video conference, while the panel of judges, some of the KPK Public Prosecutors (JPU) and the defendant's legal counsel were present at the Medan Corruption Court (Tipikor) located at the Medan District Court.

"Is there Rp. 10 million for Robin's family for treatment?" asked the KPK prosecutor.

"Yes, it is," replied Aziz.

"In your BAP, you mentioned that you have transferred Rp. 10 million on May 22 to Stepanus Robin, because you need it for family medicine and personal needs?" asked the KPK prosecutor.

"That's right," Aziz replied again.

"In the BAP 19, you said that you had transferred Rp. 200 million to Maskur Husain's BCA account on August 3, 2020 for Rp. 100 million and on August 5, 2020, another Rp. 100 million with a total of Rp. 200 million for parental treatment, in-laws' treatment, children's school and Robin's rent, right?" asked the prosecutor.

"Yes," replied Aziz.

"Not refunded yet?" asked the prosecutor.

"God willing, maybe there will be a time when the prosecutor will return it," said Azis.

Azis said he knew Robin in late 2019 or early 2020.

"Sometimes I come to the house without me being home, just talking about his household problems, his family, after a cup of coffee or tea has finished going home," said Azis.

Azis also admitted that at first he did not know that Robin was a KPK investigator.

"At first I didn't know (he worked at the KPK), but when he came to my house he used the KPK 'name tag'. I asked 'Do you work at the KPK, bro?' He said yes, then I told him to take off the KPK name tag, I said, 'Don't put a name tag on when you come to my house,' said Azis.

Azis said he did not hesitate to lend to Robin, because of Robin's good behavior.

"Because first he (Robin) was introduced to an old friend, then by attitude I knew him well, the news is that he is also good and never messes around, then because he is still young I consider him my sister and as long as I can help people and my only intention is to to help fellow human beings, yes, I'll just help, sir," said Azis.

In his statement, Azis said that the person who introduced Robin to him was Agus Supriadi as Kasatserse in Cilangkap.

"I knew him when he was on a visit to the execution of the death penalty in Nusakambangan. Mr. Agus' son is in a boarding school in Tangerang, when his job is to catch people or make BAP he sometimes comes to me, just hangs around and introduces him. Introduced as a classmate, my assumption is certain the police," said Azis.

According to Azis, he is not the only one who lends money to Robin.

"It's not only Robin who borrows money from me, DPR members if there is recess money we have to distribute and 2.5 percent of my charity is put into Mandiri's account," said Azis.

The indictment states that M Syahrial as the Mayor of Tanjungbalai who is also a Golkar Party cadre visited the official residence of the Deputy Chairman of the DPR RI who is also a Golkar Party official, Muhammad Azis Syamsudin, on Jalan Denpasar Raya, Kuningan, South Jakarta.

At that meeting, Syahrial and Azis Syamsudin discussed the regional election that the defendant would participate in in Tanjungbalai City, then Azis told Syahrial that he would introduce someone who could help monitor the defendant's participation in the election.

After Syarial agreed, Azis then asked Robin, who has been a KPK investigator since August 15, 2019, to meet him and then introduce Stepanus Robin to Syahrial.