During the past few months, several allegations have been made against Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum by witnesses testifying in Muhammad Nazaruddin’s trial. We round them up here, along with responses from Anas himself sent by e-mail to the Jakarta Globe.
Allegation 1: Anas is a ‘boss’ at Permai Group.
Made by: Ahmad Rivai, lawyer for Mindo Rosalina Manulang (“Rosa”); Oktarina Furi, former Permai Group staffer.
In evidence, Ahmad has stated: “Rosa says she did a lot of lobbying to various ministries to secure projects [for the Permai Group]. This was at the request of A.U. and M.N. as bosses of Permai Group.” A.U. is assumed to be Anas Urbaningrum and M.N. to be Muhammad Nazaruddin.
Rosa has said Anas had his own office on the fourth floor of the Permai Group office.
Oktarina Furi, a former personal assistant of Nazaruddin’s wife, Neneng Sri Wahyuni, said Permai’s real bosses were not the ones listed in company registration documents. She corroborated Nazaruddin employee Yulianis’ earlier testimony that the company had forced its employees to sign up as fictional directors and commissioners.
Anas: The truth is that I am not a head of the Permai Group. I first heard of it from the media. Is my name listed on the company ownership documents?
Allegation 2: Permai Group bought Anas three luxury cars.
Made by: Hidayat, a driver for Permai Group’s deputy financial controller. He said in court: “I was sent to deliver an [Toyota] Alphard [to Anas] in 2009. Then again in 2009, I was sent to deliver a Camry. I was due to deliver a Harrier, but instead it was picked up by Anas’ driver, Yadi.”
Anas: “This is not true. Once a TV camera crew climbed my home fence to film the cars parked there. What did they discover? … That [incident] really disturbed my family,”
Allegation 3: Anas bought the Permai Group’s deputy financial controller a house.
Made by: Hidayat. The driver said he was a courier for a Rp 400 million ($44,000) down payment on the home. “I also carried the final installment of Rp 600 million, which was made about a week before the raid on the Permai Group,” he said in court.
Anas: “This is ridiculous. The aim is to support the claim that I am actively involved in those companies. But the fact is my name has never been listed [on the company ownership documents].”
Allegation 4: Anas used Permai Group’s illicit donation to the Democratic Party’s congress to buy his chairmanship.
Made by: Yulianis, Oktarina Furi and Luthfi. They all testified separately that Rp 30 billion and at least $2 million of Permai Group money went to the party congress. Nazaruddin said the funds were used by Anas’ campaign team to ensure his victory in the chairman election.
Anas: “I won at the Congress through a democratic process, not through a financial competition, not because I bought votes. If anyone says otherwise, it is because they are not happy with the results or because they wish to become party chairman without going through congress.”
Allegation 5: Anas was a ‘boss’ at Anugerah Nusantara.
Made by: Baskoro, head of Human Resources Development at Anugerah Nusantara, a Nazaruddin company. He testified: “The structure was Anas at the top, then Nazar, then below them Yulianis and Hasim.”
Yulianis said she “often” saw Anas at the company’s offices from late 2008 until after the 2009 elections.
Anas’ denial: “The identity of the bosses at Anugrah Nusantara can easily be checked by looking at the company charter. And it is certainly not me. You’ll find a bunch of names, but not Anas.”