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.
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