Indonesian police question Wahid over bribe claim

Indonesian police have questioned former head of state Mr Abdurrahman Wahid about corruption claims.

Indonesian police have questioned former head of state Mr Abdurrahman Wahid about corruption claims.

It is alleged the son of former president Suharto tried to buy presidential clemency over a corruption conviction during Mr Wahid's term in office.

Police say Mr Suharto's youngest son claims he gave the equivalent of $1.5 million to a Wahid aide in October 2000.

Mr Wahid's spokesman Mr Adhi Massardi said Mr Wahid met Mr Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra at a five-star hotel "out of respect for the Suharto family". Shortly thereafter, Mr Wahid turned down the clemency request.

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Mr Masardi said Mr Wahid did not know the man Tommy claims was sent by him as a presidential representative to collect the bribe. "Wahid knew nothing about it and never received any money," Mr Massardi said.

Earlier this week, police questioned Mr Wahid's wife and daughter over the same allegations.

After his clemency appeal was turned down, Tommy went on the run. Police finally arrested him in November. During his time as a fugitive, the Supreme Court overturned the corruption charge.

But police plan to charge Tommy with the murder of the judge who convicted him for corruption. They have also linked him to a series of bomb blasts and the illegal possession of weapons.

PA