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House’s Stance on Century Unhelpful, KPK Says
Muninggar Sri Saraswati | March 17, 2010

Anti-Bank Century bailout activists burning brochures with pictures of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Vice President Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati at a rally in Jakarta on Tuesday. The KPK has asked for patience as it conducts what could be a lengthy investigation in the rescue of the ailing lender in 2008. (JG Photo/Safir Makki) Anti-Bank Century bailout activists burning brochures with pictures of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Vice President Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati at a rally in Jakarta on Tuesday. The KPK has asked for patience as it conducts what could be a lengthy investigation in the rescue of the ailing lender in 2008. (JG Photo/Safir Makki)
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Valkyrie
11:53am Mar 17, 2010

........and fail badly in their political agenda? We're going to see a lot of unhappy people.

eremem
10:44am Mar 17, 2010

if there is no indication of corruption then the case should be closed in KPK, it is that simple. Can DPR work on something more useful now?

Valkyrie
7:07am Mar 17, 2010

I would recommend that KPK give them more rope to hang themselves.

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In a show of defiance, the Corruption Eradication Commission on Monday upped the ante in the ongoing standoff with the House of Representatives over the Bank Century bailout.

Despite threats by lawmakers to withhold funding for the antigraft body, known as the KPK, if it failed to name suspects in the allegedly corruption-tainted rescue of the ailing lender, the KPK said House recommendations that found indications of criminal wrongdoing in the bailout were basically worthless.

Haryono Umar, the KPK’s deputy for graft prevention, said the information so far provided by the House special committee that investigated the bailout “was not sufficient.”

Speaking after meeting with the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), Haryono said the House’s findings, that the Rp 6.7 trillion ($730 million) rescue package approved by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Vice President Boediono, who was central bank governor at the time of the 2008 bailout, violated laws and must be investigated, lacked compelling evidence and would be difficult to follow up.

Another KPK deputy, Bibit Samad Riyanto, said the commission must exercise caution when investigating alleged corruption cases and had to secure strong evidence, which was “not easy to do.”

The KPK is not known for its speed in unravelling corruption cases, which has led to criticism that its prosecutions are selective and rarely involve charges being brought against the wealthy or politically connected.

Haryono asked for patience, saying corruption cases could take more than a year to investigate. “The KPK has been investigating the Bank Century case for just a couple of months now.”

Lawmaker Mahfudz Siddiq, from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), one of the parties that found the Bank Century bailout illegal, called the KPK investigation sluggish.

“The KPK must show its independence in handling this case,” Mahfudz said.

He added that the KPK needed the House recommendations to back up its investigation.

“The special committee could explain it directly to the KPK, if needed,” Mahfudz said.

Lawmaker Eva Kusuma Sundari, from the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said the House expected the KPK to speed up its probe.

“The KPK should be thankful for the recommendations as they back the investigation and, in return, it should work faster and produce satisfactory results,” she said.

Eva earlier said the House could use its power to withhold approval of the KPK’s budget if it failed to produce satisfactory results in the case.

Lawmaker Anas Urbaningrum, from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party, said the KPK’s view of the House recommendations was “understandable” given that the special committee had focused on investigating the policy surrounding the bailout, not alleged criminal activity.

Febri Diansyah, a researcher at Indonesia Corruption Watch, said the House recommendations did not mean anything in the context of the KPK’s investigation, and that the commission could not be expected to lay charges based on the recommendations.

“It is more important for the KPK to show the public it is serious about investigating the case,” he said. “But will it be courageous enough to summon Sri Mulyani and Boediono for questioning in the case?”

Additional reporting by Antara