Kamis, September 18, 2008

Anti-monopoly official nabbed on bribe charge

Jakarta, Suara Indonesia News - Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators have
arrested Muhammad Iqbal -- a member of the Business Competition
Supervisory Commission (KPPU) -- and First Media president
director Billy Sundoro on charges of bribery.

Iqbal was caught red-handed receiving Rp 500 million (US$53,191)
in cash from Billy inside the elevator of a Central Jakarta
hotel Tuesday evening, KPK chairman Antasari Azhar told
reporters minutes after the arrest.

"We are now questioning them on the details of the case. We will
detain them for 24 hours before naming them suspects," Antasari
told a press conference. KPK officials detained three other men, identified as Iqbal's
driver, Billy's assistant and an office boy at the hotel.

Action was taken later in the day to secure evidence, including
raids on the offices of the two men, Antasari said.

KPK deputy chairman Mochammad Jasin said the bribe was connected
to the KPPU's decision to exonerate Astro TV of monopoly
charges. The cable television provider won the right to
broadcast the English Premier League (EPL) last season, which
many said amounted to monopoly.

"The Rp 500 million was an act of gratitude on the part of First
Media to KPPU, as it ruled in favor of Astro," he said.

First Media, part of the Lippo Group, owns PT Ayunda Prima
Mitra, which, in turn, owns 80 percent of PT Direct Vision. The
latter is the operator of pay TV Astro Nusantara.

In September 2007, three cable providers -- PT MNC Sky Vision
(Indovision), PT Indosat Mega Media (IM2) and PT Indonusa
Telemedia (Telkomvision) -- reported Astro to the KPPU regarding
the monopoly on the English Premier League, accusing the company
of having received broadcast rights from ESPN Star Sport (ESS)
without tender.

The KPPU subsequently investigated the accusation, ruling on
Aug. 29 in favor of PT Direct Vision, the owner of Astro. Astro
and the Astro All Asia Network were then cleared of all monopoly
charges.

The KPPU said there was no evidence Astro had monopolized the
broadcast of the EPL within Indonesia. The decision considered
the fact that EPL broadcasting rights have been taken over by
Aora.

With the commission's ruling, Astro will not have to pay the
trillions of rupiah in compensation demanded by the plaintiffs
in the lawsuit. (RED)

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