Malaysia's tallest skyscraper, The Exchange 106, is in the spotlight for being the alleged venue for clandestine meetings involving Indonesia's most wanted graft suspect, Djoko Tjandra, and his associates.
At least three meetings were held there last November to finalise a purported plot to help secure Djoko's release from his 2009 conviction in the Bank Bali graft scandal, according to Indonesia's news magazine Tempo.
It was reported that a junior prosecutor in Indonesia's Attorney-General's Chambers, Pinangki Sirna Malasari, had proposed a US$100 million (RM 417.87 million) deal for her assistance in the plan laid out by Djoko. Pinangki was arrested on Aug 21 for allegedly receiving a bribe from Djoko.
Tempo cited investigation papers in Pinangki's case, where she allegedly admitted to the meetings with Djoko at his purported office in the 1MDB Signature Tower located on the Tun Razak Exchange development in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysiakini further sighted documents under Pinangki's name for travels to Kuala Lumpur on Nov 12 and Nov 25 last year.
It is understood that Pinangki's alleged involvement begun after she was approached by a close confidante of Djoko, who arranged for their first meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Sept 3 last year.
The Exchange Tower 106, where the meetings were allegedly held, is partly owned by Mulia Property Development Bhd, which is linked to Indonesia's property giant Mulia Group, controlled by Djoko's brother Eka Tjandranegara.
According to the Tempo report, Djoko had only agreed to a payment of US$10 million (RM41.78 million) from the US$100 million amount allegedly proposed by Pinangki. He then allegedly paid US$500,000 (RM2.09 million) as "down payment" to the 39-year-old, during one of their meetings.
It is understood the proposal from Pinangki was part of plans to secure a decision from Indonesia's Federal Court that would overturn Djoko's conviction and allow him to return as a free man.
When contacted, watchdog Masyarakat Anti-Korupsi Indonesia (Maki) coordinator Boyamin Saiman said there was no precedent for such a decision in a corruption probe.
"Their efforts to seek a Federal Court's decision have failed.
"Also, in practice, no such decision was ever made for a corruption case. It’s only for civil disputes," Boyamin told Malaysiakini.
Tempo further reported that Pinangki had told an internal inquiry by Indonesia's Attorney-General's Chambers that she met with Djoko to pitch potential investments in a "power plant project" in Kalimantan.
However, two sources familiar with the inquiry proceedings said the project was pitched as an alleged "cover-up" to facilitate remaining payments from the US$10 million freedom deal.
According to Tempo, Pinangki told the inquiry she had "no knowledge" of Djoko's fugitive status.
She also claimed to have informed Indonesia's Attorney-General Sanitiar Burhanuddin of their meetings, including through at least one video call session with Djoko after an agreement was reached on the US$10 million payment.
Sanitiar denied Pinangki's claim, describing it as "slander". "That's slander. I never had a video call with JT (Djoko)."
"What more being involved with money, I have nothing to do with that," he was quoted as saying by Tempo. He added that Pinangki has since been suspended from her duties, indefinitely.
Two former Indonesian police generals were also terminated for allegedly receiving a bribe from former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak's in-law, Tommy Sumardi, in connection with the case.
Tommy, described by Indonesian media reports as a "central figure" in fresh corruption probes linked to Djoko, was featured on Tempo's cover this week alongside Pinangki, Djoko's counsel Anita Kolopaking and two other former police officers.
Tommy, now under Indonesian police custody, is accused of bribing two former Brigadier-Generals - Napoleon Bonaparte and Prasetijo Utomo - to remove Djoko's Interpol Red Notice and facilitate his travels.
Malaysiakini previously reported that Djoko is believed to have been residing in Malaysia as an expatriate on a Papua New Guinea passport issued under the name of "Joe Chan", with an employment pass under the expatriate category.
According to details on the employment pass, Chan was hired as operations and development director by Mulia Property Development.
It further states that the employment pass was issued by the Immigration Department headquarters in Putrajaya on Sept 20, 2019, and remains valid for three years until Sept 20, 2022.
Malaysiakini has sent a list of questions on the status of Chan's employment to the company's management, via its external public relations agency, but was told their client declined comments.
Further attempts to reach the company, directly, have similarly failed.
Djoko's arrest in Kuala Lumpur on July 3, at an apartment believed to be his personal residence, was conducted through cooperation between Malaysian police and their Indonesian counterparts.
Local authorities have so far remained tight-lipped on details surrounding the 69-year-old's arrest and deportation. - Mkini
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