Tensions between lawmakers and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, center, were temporarily set aside on Tuesday as the budget revision hearing at the House finally went ahead. It was canceled on Monday because lawmakers insisted on Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, right, being present. (Antara Photo/Ujang Zaelani)
The Corruption Eradication Commission is scheduled to summon Vice President Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati soon in connection with the 2008 bailout of PT Bank Century.
Both Sri Mulyani and Boediono sanctioned the Rp 6.7 trillion ($744 million) rescue of the bank, which was looted by its shareholders days after the bailout.
Johan Budi, spokesman for the commission, also known as the KPK, said on Tuesday that it planned to question all officials from the Financial System Stability Committee (KSSK), including Sri Mulyani and Boediono, who at the time of the bailout was the governor of the central bank.
“We will soon conduct an inquiry into all officials of the KSSK and Bank Indonesia in connection with the Bank Century scandal,” Johan said, adding that the antigraft commission had yet to set a date when Sri Mulyani and Boediono would be summoned for questioning.
On Monday, the commission held a joint examination involving the department of preliminary investigation, graft investigation and prosecution to discuss the progress of the case and other strategic decisions. The examination lasted until early on Tuesday.
This is the second joint examination conducted by the KPK in connection with the Bank Century case. During the first examination, the KPK decided to focus all investigation on indications of corruption linked to the bailout. The spokesman, however, refused to disclose further details on the progress of the investigation.
In November 2008, the KSSK decided to save the ailing bank, saying the collapse of the lender would pose a systemic threat to the country’s banking and financial system. Several analysts and antigraft watchdogs, however, disagreed and criticized the methodology used to categorize the bank as systemically important.
The House of Representatives launched its own probe into the bailout after allegations that the decision to save the ailing bank was made to protect assets belonging to several donors to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s re-election campaign in 2009.
Although failing to establish any links between the KSSK’s decision and Yudhoyono’s campaign, the House in early 2010 ruled that the bailout was illegal and ordered law enforcement agencies to conduct a criminal investigation.
The KPK has been examining the case since March 2009 but no one has been charged with any criminal offense.
Nongovernmental group Indonesia Corruption Watch said the KPK must set a deadline to ensure that the investigation would not be prolonged.
“What is the KPK waiting for? It has all the right documents and there have been numerous joint examinations but so far there has not been any real progress,” ICW deputy chairman Emerson Yuntho said.
The KPK has so far summoned five current and former Bank Indonesia executives, including three directors, in relation to the Bank Century investigation. Several officials from the Deposit Insurance Agency (LPS) and the Capital Market and Financial Institutions Supervisory Agency (Bapepam-LK) have also been questioned. Several members of the House Commission III, which oversees legal and political affairs, have threatened to reduce the KPK’s budget unless it expedites the Bank Century investigation.
Related Articles:
House fails to send complete documents on Century case to KPK
Sri Mulyani’s Supporters and Foes Dig in Heels As Her Role in Century Bailout Still Divides House
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