Golkar urges KPK to arrest MPs involved in BI scandal

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 04/21/2008 10:36 AM  |  National

Golkar Party members have urged the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to arrest lawmakers from other parties allegedly involved in the misappropriation of Bank Indonesia funds, saying the ongoing investigation has been "hurtful" to the party.

Ferry Mursyidan Baldan, a Golkar lawmaker in the House of Representatives' Commission II overseeing home affairs, said Saturday the arrest of Golkar party members Hamka Yamdhu and Anthony Zeidra Abidin would be meaningless if the anti-graft body failed to arrest 11 other lawmakers who also allegedly accepted funds.

"The KPK must not stop investigating the case now they have arrested Anthony and Hamka," he said, adding the public must uphold the principle of the presumption of innocence.

Golkar executive Yuddy Chrisnandi, who is in the House's Commission I overseeing defense and foreign affairs, urged the KPK to detain other members of the then Commission IX overseeing financial affairs (now Commission XI) once the anti-graft body had solid evidence.

"I also hope the arrests of Hamka and Anthony can be a lesson to other Golkar members that they must not accept bribes," he said.

The KPK arrested Anthony and Hamka last Thursday after they were first questioned as suspects. They were declared as suspects on April 10.

Anthony, who is now Jambi deputy governor, and Hamka, who is still in the financial affairs commission, were implicated in the case when they served as members of Commission IX during the 1999-2004 term.

The KPK suspected the two of disbursing Rp 31.5 billion (US$3.4 million) of BI funds from former BI communications officer (now head of the central bank office in Surabaya) Rusli Simanjutak to 11 other lawmakers, including Matheos Pormes and Williem Tutuarima from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Amin Said from the National Awakening Party (PKB).

The money was allegedly used as a bribe to influence amendments to the law on the central bank then under discussion by the commission.

Another Rp 68.5 billion of funds was used to hire lawyers for several BI officials, including BI deputy governor Iwan R. Prawiranata and former BI governor Soedrajad Djiwandono, who had all been convicted for embezzling Indonesian Banking liquidity support (BLBI) funds.

The KPK has named Rusli, BI Governor Burhanuddin Abdullah and BI legal affairs director Oey Hoey Tiong as suspects in the case. They have all been detained.

Ferry said Golkar would hold an internal meeting this week to discuss Hamka's fate.

During the meeting, the party will also discuss the fate of lawmaker Saleh Djasit, who is in the House's Commission VII overseeing technology and mineral resources.

Saleh has been charged by the KPK for manipulating the budget to purchase 20 fire engines during his 1999-2003 tenure as Riau governor.

"The meeting agenda will include providing attorneys and moral support for both Hamka and Saleh," Ferry said.

He said Golkar had yet to decide on replacements for the two lawmakers in the House, pending the completion of all legal processes. (ewd)

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