Engaged In Alleged Bribery For Handling Cases In Central Lampung, Azis Syamsuddin Immediately Has An Orange Vest?

Gedung KPK (Irfan Meidianto/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has confirmed that it is investigating allegations of bribery related to the handling of corruption cases in Central Lampung. The name of the Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Azis Syamsuddin, was also reported to be a suspect in this case after he was suspected of giving money to former KPK investigator Stepanus Robin Pattuju.

Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, stated that his party was investigating allegations of giving related to a corruption case that he was investigating in Central Lampung. Although he did not name names, Azis is suspected of being a suspect in this case.

"KPK is currently investigating the alleged corruption case of giving gifts or promises related to the handling of criminal cases handled by the KPK in Central Lampung Regency," Ali told reporters, Thursday, September 23.

He did not specify who was the suspect in this case. However, Azis' name sticks out because his name is mentioned in the indictment of Stepanus Robin, who is a defendant in the case handling the case of the inactive Tanjungbalai Mayor M Syahrial.

In the indictment, it is stated that Azis and Aliza Gunado are said to have given Rp3,099 billion and US$36 thousand. This money is intended to deal with the bribery case in Central Lampung which is being handled by the KPK.

Returning to Ali, he said the KPK would announce the suspect along with the chronology and construction of the alleged corruption when forced efforts to make arrests and/or detentions were made.

However, he confirmed that investigators had worked to gather evidence. In fact, investigators have asked for statements from a number of witnesses who are suspected of having knowledge of the crime.

"The investigative team is still working and continues to collect evidence and has examined several witnesses in Jakarta, Bandung, Tangerang and Lampung," said Ali.

He also ensured that the KPK would always convey the development of this case to the public. "We hope that the public can also continue to monitor and supervise its handling as a form of transparency and public participation in eradicating corruption," said Ali.

Asking Azis to cooperate when called

Although it is not yet known when this Golkar Party politician will be summoned, KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri has asked him to cooperate. Moreover, this summons was carried out for the purpose of investigation so that the alleged bribery case handling the case in Central Lampung became clear.

"We hope that everyone who is summoned will fulfill the summons as a form of respect for the upholding and orderliness of law and justice," Firli told reporters.

He also said the anti-corruption commission would continue to resolve the case and asked the public to give investigators time.

"We really understand the people's expectations for the KPK to eradicate corruption. Because of this, the KPK continues to work hard, including asking for information from the parties," said the former Deputy for Enforcement of the KPK.

"The people put our hope and of course the answer really depends on all of us as children of the nation who respect and obey the law," he added.

Not the first case of Azis at the KPK

Although now his name is widely mentioned as a suspect in the bribery case handling cases in Central Lampung, Azis has actually been mentioned several times in a number of alleged cases.

VOI search, there are a number of cases that have dragged the name of the Golkar Party politician.

What are the cases?

A corruption case in the procurement of a driver's license (SIM) simulator project

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

In the trial, Azis' name was mentioned by Teddy. According to him, there were four boxes of money that he delivered to members of the DPR, especially the Banggar DPR group.

Teddy also mentioned the names of the members of Commission III of the DPR besides Nazaruddin whom he said 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-P.

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

It was said that he had threatened former member of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Miryam S Haryani

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

There are a number of members of the DPR RI who are said to be threatening Miryam, they are Bambang Soesatyo, Aziz Syamsudin, Desmond J. Mahesa, Masinton Pasaribu, Syarifudin Suding and there is another member of Commission 3 whose name is not remembered by investigators.

As for this bribery case, Miryam is one of the key witnesses of giving and receiving money related to the eKTP case. He is the party who prepared a sum of money to be distributed.

The money is given in cash with envelopes each of which has been given a code, which envelope is for members, leaders and head of staff.

Before distributing the money, Miryam also admitted that he coordinated with the chairman of Commission 2 at the time, Chaeruman Harahap. Coordination was carried out to determine the amount of money that should be given to his colleagues in the DPR.

In response to this, Azis, who was then a member of Commission III of the DPR RI and the Chairman of the Banggar DPR RI, admitted that he was surprised by the testimony that called himself threatening to Miriam withdraw the Minutes of Investigation (BAP) in this case.

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

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

The Golkar Party politician was surprised by Miryam's confession, quoted by senior KPK investigator Novel Baswedan. Moreover, Aziz said, he was never on the same commission as the Hero of the Hanura Party.

"We have never been on the same commission as Mrs. Miryam, we are also surprised that Mrs. Miryam said something like that," he said, mentioning that if Miryam could not prove his words, then he could be threatened with defamation.

It was said that he received $100,000 in connection with the e-KTP corruption case

Furthermore, in 2018, Azis' name was again dragged into the e-KTP mega-corruption case. During the trial, Setya Novanto's nephew, who was then a defendant, Irvanto Hendra Pambudi, admitted that he had handed over $100,000 in money to DPR RI member Aziz Syamsuddin.

The money is suspected to have something to do with the project to procure an electronic-based Identity Card (e-KTP). "I handed over 100,000 to Pak Aziz Syamsuddin," he said.

According to Irvan, the handover of the money was ordered by businessman Andi Agustinus alias Andi Narogong. Meanwhile, the transfer of money was made at the residence of Aziz Syamsuddin.

Meanwhile, when examined as a witness, Azis denied that he had ever received the money. "I am currently 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 questions with the defendant Irvanto, Aziz admitted that he knew Irvanto as a Golkar executive and the nephew of Setya Novanto.

"Irvanto is a Golkar administrator, if I'm not mistaken the Deputy General Treasurer. He is a relative with Setya Novanto. Since 2004 I have joined the DPD, if I meet Pak Setya Novanto, there is him (Irvanto)," said Aziz.

The judge also asked whether Aziz knew about Irvanto who paid Rp 5 billion for Rapimnas in Bogor, West Java. Hearing the question, Aziz replied that he didn't know.

In addition, Azis' name re-emerged in the case of stopping the investigation of cases handled by the KPK. In this case, three people were named suspects and detained.

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

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

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

This meeting and introduction is suspected because M Syahrial has legal problems and is still at the investigation level. Furthermore, to smoothen his desire so that the case does not go up for investigation, M Syahrial bribed Stepanus in the amount of Rp1.3 billion.