JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – Sengman Tjahja, a businessman allegedly close friend of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, will be examined by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) related to the graft case of beef quota import.
Besides Sengman, KPK also re-examined Suswono, Minister of Agriculture and politician from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), on Tuesday (Nov. 19).
Both Sengman and Suswono are witnesses for Maria Elizabeth Liman, Director of PT Indoguna Utama and suspect in the case. This is the first examination session for Sengman. While for Suswono, the Tuesday’s examination is the fourth session.
Sengman Tjahja was firstly introduced to public in a trial session of beef import quota graft on Aug. 29, 2013. At that time, KPK’s prosecutor team played a wiretapped conversation between Ahmad Fathanah (aide of former PKS President Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq and suspect in the case) with Ridwan Hakim (son of PKS patron leader Hilmi Aminuddin).
In the wiretapped conversation, Fathanah said he has delivered Rp40 billion money through Sengman and Hendra. Ridwan then, when answered to the question from KPK’s prosecutor team, revealed that Sengman was President SBY’s special envoy to PKS.
Furthermore, Suswono also added that when he accepted Sengman’s visit to his official house, Sengman was claimed for having a close relationship with SBY.
SBY, meanwhile, through Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, has admitted he had known Sengman but denied all reports saying about a close relationship between him and the businessman.(haryantos@yosefardi.biz)