THE two men were debating sharply. One was State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra, while the other was Rony Santana, an investigator from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The former, who kept puffing away at his cigarette, insisted that a Minister may determine what government projects may be directly awarded to private companies. The latter held the opposite view.

All this transpired while Yusril was being questioned as a witness in the