The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has said the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is welcome to follow up an investigation involving the alleged misappropriation of Bank Indonesia funds by AGO prosecutors
The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has said the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is welcome to follow up an investigation involving the alleged misappropriation of Bank Indonesia funds by AGO prosecutors.
Attorney General Hendarman Supandji said in Jakarta on Friday the KPK had the authority to take action against the prosecutors, who allegedly received money in exchange for dropping investigations into a graft case involving two former central bank top executives.
"This case belongs to the KPK because the anti-graft body initiated the investigation. We don't want investigations into the case to overlap," he said.
"It's a matter of a person giving (a bribe) to another. It's a corruption charge and that lies under the jurisdiction of the KPK."
During the trial of Golkar Party politicians Hamka Yandhu and Anthony Zeidra Abidin at the Corruption Court last Tuesday, former BI legal bureau head Oey Hoey Tiong said Rp 68.5 billion (US$7.12 million) from a Rp 100 billion Indonesian Banking Development Foundation (YPPI) fund had been channeled to members of the prosecution in a different graft case involving the alleged embezzlement of Bank Indonesia liquidity support (BLBI) funds.
Hamka and Anthony have been charged with receiving some of the misappropriated BI funds.
The BLBI scandal has also implicated former BI governor Soedradjad Djiwandono, former deputy governor Iwan R. Prawiranata and three former BI directors.
During the trial, it was revealed that implicated AGO lawyers YW Mere and Baringin Sianturi had been on the prosecution against Iwan; while Mere, Chairul Amir, Enriana Fahruddin, Andi M Iqbal and Robert Pelealu had been on the prosecution against Soedradjad.
"It's not that we don't want to follow up the court findings, but the hearing itself didn't name any prosecutors. We are monitoring the case as it is still in session," Hendarman said.
Tuesday's trial saw defense lawyers read out the transcript of a recorded conversation between Oey and Anthony dated this year. The conversation evidenced the handover of the funds to the prosecutors. Oey later admitted his role in the conversation.
"The finding is based on the taped conversations, and information presented on a tape is not considered legal evidence in a court hearing," AGO spokesman Jasman Panjaitan said.
"If there's any significant update in the future and it requires our involvement, then we'll move on it."
KPK spokesman Johan Budi said his office required more information to follow up on the court findings.
"The names of the prosecutors have not been mentioned yet in court. We're still waiting for more evidence in addition to the taped conversation," he told The Jakarta Post.
Johan said any court finding would be followed up.
"The trial is still going on, and we'll see what we can get from there. We'll follow up every new lead to compile enough evidence for our investigations," he said.
Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.