Top Military Brass in Possible Bribery Case

Two weeks ago Eko Susilo Hadi spent one and a half hours alone in his office on the first floor of the Marine Security Board's (Bakamla) old building in Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta. Bakamla's deputy for information, law and cooperation was supposed to join his colleagues for the general rehearsal of an official ceremony for the board's anniversary. Eko had asked for his superior's consent to be absent in the preparations, saying he had to attend the funeral of a family member.

After the midday prayers, the silence in Eko's room was finally broken. Two visitors, delegated by Melati Technofo Indonesia, Hardy Stefanus and Muhammad Adam Okta, arrived, delivering a packet containing US and Singapore dollar banknotes worth Rp2 billion. Their mission completed, Hardy and Adam hurriedly returned to the parking lot. But the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) task force team, who had been following them, immediately arrested both men.

Other KPK team members went directly up to Eko's room. Caught with the money still lying on the table, Eko could do nothing. "KPK officers promptly counted the money, witnessed by a Bakamla employee," said Bakamla Chief Secretary Agus Setiadji, last Thursday. With the evidence in their hands, the KPK team took Eko and the two private employees to the KPK head office.