Central bank chief tired of answering KPK questions

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 04/03/2008 1:36 AM | National

Embattled Bank Indonesia Governor Burhanuddin Abdullah has demanded a long break, saying questioning by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has tired him out.

"I am here again at the KPK's behest. It was a long questioning session; I faced 22 questions today," he said Wednesday.

"I am very tired right now and I think I deserve a very long break."

Burhanuddin was questioned for six hours at the KPK office Wednesday. He has been summoned six times since he was declared a suspect by the KPK more than two months ago and was questioned for several hours each time.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said Burhanuddin had no right to demand a break.

"It's not relevant whether he's tired or not. If we have new questions regarding his involvement in the BI scandal, we'll summon him," he said.

Johan said Burhanuddin had been questioned about the meeting during which Rp 100 billion (US$10.81 million) of central bank funds was allegedly misappropriated. He refused to go into detail, adding the KPK "is going deep into the background".

The KPK has also named as suspects former BI director of legal affairs Oey Hong Tiong and former BI communications bureau chief Rusli Simanjuntak. Both are being detained but Burhanuddin remains free.

According to a report by the Supreme Audit Agency, the scandal started when the BI board of governors, led by Burhanuddin, agreed at a meeting to pass the Rp 100 billion to the Indonesian Banking Development Foundation to help cover legal expenses relating to bank liquidity litigation.

Previous KPK interviews revealed Oey distributed Rp 68.5 billion of the funds among several BI officials, including Iwan R. Prawiranata and Paul Sutopo, involved in the BI liquidity support (BLBI) cases, supposedly to cover their legal expenses. They were later convicted of embezzling BLBI funds.

Rusli allegedly gave Rp 31.5 billion to several members of House of Representatives Commission IX (now Commission XI) overseeing financial affairs during the amendment of the law on the central bank.

The audit agency has reported 10 current and former lawmakers were on the receiving end of the funds.

Johan said the KPK did not believe it should arrest Burhanuddin. He rejected the popular opinion that lawmakers or the President had intervened.

"There's no need to arrest him. He promised he would always appear for questioning and be cooperative," he said.

Johan said it was very likely there would be more suspects in the BI scandal.

"Logically, any new suspects in this case will probably be those we have summoned before," he said.

KPK director of prosecutions Ferry Wibisono said the suspects would be prosecuted soon.

"We're still finalizing the investigation. Hopefully we'll be able to prosecute soon. After all, the public is waiting for this," he said, adding there is no time limit on investigations. (anw)

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