Question the judges, KPK told

Abdul Khalik ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 02/18/2008 1:33 PM  |  Headlines

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) should not stop at questioning officials and lawmakers, but must summon prosecutors and judges implicated in the alleged swindle of Rp 100 billion (US$10.81 million) of Bank Indonesia funds, activists said.

"KPK must investigate all people implicated in the graft case, including prosecutors and judges -- if there is enough preliminary evidence, and we will support them," Ganjar Pranowo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

A letter from the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) to the KPK in November 2006, a copy of which was sent to The Jakarta Post, named lawyers, prosecutors and judges handling cases of BI officials implicated in billions of dollars of the Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI) graft cases.

The BPK's letter said misappropriation of the Rp 100 billion fund saw money disbursed from the Indonesian Banking Development Foundation between 2003 and 2004.

Out of the fund, Rp 68.5 billion was used to help resolve BLBI cases and Rp 31.5 billion was allegedly distributed to House members with the financial affairs commission during the amendment of the BI law.

The letter alleged Rp 68.5 billion of the funds was submitted to law enforcement officials at the Attorney General's Office in bribes to stop cases that had implicated former BI governors and directors, including J. Soedrajad Djiwandono, Iwan R. Prawiranata, Heru Supraptomo, Hendrobudianto and Paul Sutopo.

"It was found later that investigations into Soedrajat and Iwan were dropped by the Attorney General's Office," the letter read.

The letter said Heru, Hendrobudiyanto and Paul were only given 1.5 years in prison after going through the district court, high court and Supreme Court with Court Justice Bagir Manan presiding all of the supreme court trials.

KPK has announced BI Governor Burhanudin Abdullah, along with BI legal affairs director Oey Hoey Tiong and former head of BI's communication bureau Rusli Simanjuntak, as suspects in the case.

The anti-graft body has detained Oey and Rusli and questioned more than 12 other BI officials as witnesses, including former deputy governor Aulia Pohan, father-in-law to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's son.

Last week, all named BI officials were banned from traveling abroad.

Lawmaker Hamka Yamdhu and former House member Anthony Zeidar Abidin were also interrogated by KPK.

"The case shows a full circle of corruption that involves executives, legislative and judicial personnel," Golkar Party lawmaker Hari Azhar Azis said.

"But KPK should continue probing law enforcement officials to avoid discrimination."

Ibrahim Fahmi of the Indonesian Corruption Watch also urged KPK to investigate all those mentioned in the BPK's report to prove case investigations were not politically-motivated to prevent Burhanudin from re-running for BI governor.

"In fact, we suggest that KPK stop investigating other cases for several months to be able to put all its resources to this crucial case," he told the Post.

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