A Break in the Storm

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

THE CORRUPTION ERADICATION COMMISSION (KPK), led by Taufiequrachman Ruki, continues to track down the flow of bribes in a corruption case to procure fingerprinting equipment for the Justice & Legal Affairs Department, which at that time was headed by Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra.

The conflict between Yusril, currently the State Secretary, and Ruki, has spilled over into the political arena. This past Monday, these two high-ranking public officials, reconciled according to cultural tradition by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), were summoned to the House of Representatives (DPR).

As it turns out, the Rp18.48-billion project had gotten underway long before the contract was even signed. Who are the players in this case, and to what extent was Yusril involved? The following are the results of Tempos investigation.

. tempo : 173518495624.

THE two quarreling public officials met at the State Palace in Jakarta on Friday last week. State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra approached Taufiequrachman Ruki, who was speaking with an official. I thought you had a stroke, said Yusril, offering to shake hands.

Ruki immediately burst into laughter. Before he could reply, Yusril, who was neatly dressed in a black suit, quickly moved on. However, KPK Chairman Ruki did not want to be left behind. Do

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