Frantic Last-Minute Move

Eventually President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono agrees that the criminal case involving the two KPK leaders should not go to court. There is a maneuver to get Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra M. Hamzah to resign.

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THE seven leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrived at the Wisma Negara (State House) on Jalan Merdeka Utara, Central Jakarta, in a little hurry. In addition to the three acting officials and two KPK leaders on active duty, the two suspended KPK deputy chairmen—Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Hamzah—were also asked to come along. On that particular day, Monday afternoon last week, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono suddenly asked to meet with the seven of them at the State Palace.

“The President wanted to hear the KPK’s input,” said the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal & Security Affairs, Djoko Suyanto, last week. In addition to Djoko, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi and Minister of Justice & Human Rights, Patrialis Akbar, also accompanied Yudhoyono.

Six hours after the meeting at 7:30pm the President was scheduled to deliver a speech about his reaction to the Team of Eight’s recommendations. As widely reported by the media, the team wants the case of alleged extortion and abuse of power with which the police charged Bibit and Chandra to be dropped. They consider that the evidence and witnesses as stated in the case dossier are weak.

The President told the KPK leaders his plan to carry out the Team of Eight’s recommendations. “I don’t want this to continue to drag on,” he affirmed. The President’s statement was received with a big smile. “We’re very supportive,” said acting KPK Chairman Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean.

Chandra and Bibit were most relieved. Chandra told Yudhoyono he did not hold grudges against anybody over the conspiracy. “I’ve forgiven all of them,” said Chandra as quoted by Patrialis Akbar.

When seeing his visitors to the door after the meeting, Yudhoyono whispered to Chandra, “Be strong.” Pointing at Chandra, the President said to other KPK leaders, “Pak Chandra is very patient.” Patrialis Akbar admitted it was a very amicable meeting. “Yes, [the atmosphere of] the meeting was very good,” confirmed Patrialis.

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New facts unearthed in latest BI scandal

A financial watchdog has submitted data on more than 400 traveler’s checks allegedly belonging to Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor Miranda Swaray Gultom as evidence in a bribery case implicating scores of legislators.

When asked for confirmation, Financial Transaction Reports Analysis Center (PPATK) chairman Yunus Hussein said Tuesday the checks, each of which had a value of Rp 50 million and was issued by a privately-owned bank, had been deposited in 2004.

“The data on some 400 traveler checks which have been cashed in has been submitted to the KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission). Just ask them (the KPK) about the progress (of the case),” he said in a short message.

The KPK began its investigations into the case after Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Agus Condro confessed to having received 10 traveler’s checks worth total Rp 500 million after he had voted for Miranda to be BI senior deputy governor in 2004.

Miranda denied the allegation, saying she did not know about the bribery.

Earlier on Tuesday, KPK chairman Antasari Azhar said he had asked the PPATK to help track down traveler’s checks cashed in by Agus.

“It’s difficult but we are working on it,” Antasari said.

Agus also publicly admitted that at least four of his PDI-P colleagues at the House’s Commission IX had received the same amount of money from Dudhie Makmun Murod at the office of commission chief Emier Moeis.

Agus named the four as William Tutuarima, Budiningsih, Mateus Formes and Muhammad Iqbal. Dudhie and Emier are also PDI-P legislators.

The PDI-P immediately denied Agus’ allegation, and later fired the whistle blower from the House.

The dismissal prompted the House’s Disciplinary Council to drop its plan to question Agus in connection with the bribery case.

The PDI-P has also removed Agus Condro from its list of candidates for next year’s legislative election.

Agus said he had used the money to buy two cars and an apartment in Jakarta. He said he was willing to surrender the assets to the KPK as evidence.

Agus is among 52 lawmakers named by Golkar lawmaker Hamka Yandhu as recipients of the BI funds disbursed in 2003 to help the House’s Commission IX resolve cases on the alleged embezzlement of BI Liquidity Support funds and to endorse amendments to a BI law to give the central bank greater autonomy.

Hamka and fellow Golkar lawmaker Antony Zeidra Abidin are standing trial for the graft case, which also implicates, among others, former BI governor Burhanuddin Abdullah.

By Abdul Khalik
Source : The Jakarta Post

Ex-BI chiefs blamed for corruption

By Andreas D. Arditya

Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors on Thursday revealed the role of Bank Indonesia’s board of governors in the misappropriation of Rp 100 billion (US$10.9 million) belonging to its foundation in 2003.

In their indictments read before Corruption Court judges, prosecutors charged then BI legal affairs deputy Oey Hoey Tiong and then head of the BI communications bureau Rusli Simanjuntak with graft and abuse of power.

Oey could face a life sentence, and Rusli five years for bribery.

The indictments said the two defendants, along with then BI governor Burhanuddin Abdullah and deputy governors Aulia Pohan, Bun Bunan Hutapea and Aslim Tadjuddin, had violated the law.

Aulia is the father-in-law of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s son.

According to the indictments, the BI board of governors decided to disburse the money from BI’s Indonesian Banking Development Foundation (YPPI) in June 2003 at the suggestion of the defendants.

In May 2003, Rusli advised Burhanuddin and Aulia to disburse Rp 40 billion to support the House’s Commission IX for financial affairs in resolving the BI liquidity support (BLBI) case and amending the BI Law.

Rusli, at the approval of Burhanuddin and Aulia, had previously held several meetings to discuss the issues with members of the commission at hotels in Central Jakarta.

“Aulia later told Rusli to keep up his communication with the lawmakers and to report developments to him,” the indictments said.

Separately, in June 2003, Oey asked Burhanuddin for financial assistance to cover legal expenses for five former BI officials who were involved in the BLBI cases.

From June to September 2003, Aulia and fellow deputy governor Maman Somantri, both also members of YPPI’s board of supervisors, approved a total of Rp 31.5 billion for Rusli to distribute between Commission IX members Hamka Yandhu and Antony Zeidra Abidin.

Aulia and Maman also approved a total of Rp 68.5 billion in disbursements to five former senior BI officials, Paul Sutopo, Hendro Budiyanto, Heru Soepraptomo, Iwan Prawiranata and Soedrajat Djiwandono, who were all implicated in the BLBI corruption cases.

Although Burhanuddin, Hamka and Antony have been named suspects, the KPK has yet to name Bun Bunan, Aslim and Aulia.

Muhammad Jasin, KPK deputy chairman for prevention, said the anti-graft body was still working on the case.

“We still need to gather stronger evidence,” he said Thursday.

Jasin denied accusations the KPK had come under political pressure in its investigation of Aulia.

“There’s no political pressure on us. We’re an independent body. We wouldn’t have done this if we were pressured,” he said.

Defendants Oey and Rusli objected that the disbursement of the money was their responsibility.

Presiding judge Moefri adjourned the trial until next Monday to hear prosecutors’ response to the defendants’ objections. [The Jakarta Post]

KPK urged to take over BLBI cases

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has strong legal grounds to take over investigation of a huge loan scandal from the Attorney General’s Office, a discussion concluded here Friday.

The KPK has several times argued it was unable to take over the cases of the embezzled Bank Indonesia liquidity assistance (BLBI) funds because the 2003 law setting up the commission could not be applied retroactively.

The BLBI cases all date back to the financial crisis in 1998-1999, while the law to set up the KPK was passed in 2003.

But legal experts, speaking at the discussion, dismissed the non-retroactivity argument.

They said the KPK law states the commission has the authority to take over corruption cases if the AGO is unable to investigate them or lacks the commitment to do so.

“The mechanism for taking over cases from the AGO is stipulated in the 2003 KPK law,” said prominent legal expert Romli Atmasasmita, who chairs the Indonesian Society of Criminal Code and Criminology (Mahupiki).

According to him, the AGO lacked political will to seriously investigate the BLBI scandal.

On Feb 29, 2008, the AGO dropped the BLBI cases against two tycoons — Sjamsul Nursalim and Anthony Salim — citing a lack of evidence.

Two days later, the KPK arrested AGO prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan for allegedly taking a US$660,000 bribe from businesswoman Artalyta Suryani who has been linked to Sjamsul.

Sjamsul, who fled Indonesia, was suspected of misusing trillions of rupiah from the BLBI funds. Urip led the team to probe Sjamsul’s involvement in the scandal.

Mahupiki said the arrest of Urip provided momentum for the KPK to rapidly take over the cases from the AGO.

“The AGO has no commitment and intention to resolve the BLBI cases immediately. It has just let debtors escape justice without repaying their loans,” Romli said.

“Besides, there are also some AGO officials who misused some of the funds,” he added without elaborating.

The two-day discussion on the BLBI scandal, which ended Friday, was co-organized by Mahupiki and the Partnership for Governance Reform. Around 30 law experts were in attendance.

The Mahupiki board of directors includes senior legal experts — Muladi, Ronny Nitibaskara, Andi Hamzah and Liliana Tedjosaputro.

Partnership’s anti-corruption advisor Dadang Trisasongko shared similar views, saying the AGO had failed to resolve the BLBI cases.

He asked the AGO to be cooperative with the KPK should the commission take over the BLBI cases.

“The AGO has documents and evidence related to these cases. It should provide them to the KPK when the commission takes over the cases.

Last month, Attorney General Hendarman Supandji said it was possible for the AGO to reopen the investigations into Sjamsul and Anthony but it depended on whether the Corruption Court found a link between the BLBI scandal and the Artalyta bribery case.

However, Romli expressed doubts that the AGO would reopen the cases. “It’s impossible that the AGO will work to resolve these issues” he said. [The Jakarta Post]