KPK Discovered Secret Cash Stash in Akil’s Karaoke Room: Mahfud

Jakarta Globe,  January 15, 2014

Indonesian anti-graft officials escort chief constitutional court Akil Mochtar
(C-orange) in Jakarta on Oct. 4, 2013. (AFP Photo)

Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) agents reportedly uncovered a secret stash of cash in the walls of disgraced Constitutional Court chief justice Akil Mochtar’s official residence, according to a witness interviewed in the case.

The funds were discovered in a hidden compartment in Akil’s karaoke room, former chief justice Mahfud MD, a one-time occupant of the house, told reporters after being questioned as a witness by the KPK. Mahfud had the karaoke room built while he occupied the position, but denied knowledge of the hidden compartment, which was built behind the soundproofing panels lining the walls.

“I was questioned by investigators as to whether I knew about the karaoke room,” Mahfud told the state-run Antara News Agency. “I told them I knew [about the room] … but what surprised me was information from the investigators that Akil’s money was hidden in the wall.”

Mahfud said he was not told how much money was found in the secret compartment, but estimated that it was a substantial amount.

“I don’t know the amount,” he said. “[I know] enough to know that the amount is more than Rp 100 billion [$8.3 million]. I don’t want to know anything more.”

Akil’s lawyer accused Mahfud of exaggerating, saying the money as indeed seized, but it was found in the karaoke room, not inside a wall.

“As far as I know, the money was found in the karaoke room, not inside a wall,” attorney Tamsil Sjoekoer told the Indonesian news portal TribunNews.com. “It was confiscated after Akil was arrested and the house was searched.”

If Mahfud knew of a hidden compartment, it was only because he had it built, Tamsil said.

“It’s exaggerating saying that it was in the wall,” Tamsil said. “It means Mahfud  made the hole.”

Akil was charged with accepting bribes to rig the results of election disputes heard at the Constitutional Court, undermining the democratic process in a widening corruption scandal that has tainted the reputation of one of the nation’s highest courts and threatened to take down a powerful family dynasty in Banten province.