Burhanuddin denies responsibility over BI funds

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 10/15/2008 2:42 PM | National

Former Bank Indonesia governor Burhanuddin Abdullah denies responsibility in the alleged embezzlement of Rp 100 billion (US$10.3 million) in BI funds, in a defense plea he read in court on Wednesday.

Burhanuddin told the court that he was blamed for something that he alleged was engineered during the tenure of Sjahril Sabirin as the central bank governor, just before be was sworn into office.

“I was sworn in into the position on May 20, 2003, while the decision was made the board of governors in June 22, 2003,” he said.

Some Rp 68 billion of the money went to five former senior BI officials implicated in another case involving the disbursement of the BI liquidity support for ailing banks back in 2003.

The rest Rp 31.5 billion was allegedly disbursed to lawmakers so as to ensuring a smooth deliberation of an amendment to the Central Bank Law also in 2003.

Burhanuddin expected the court to consider facts uncovered during the trial.

“The only mistake I did was becoming a BI governor, so I had to be responsible for BI policies during my tenure,” he said. (dre)

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