SBY is in low stand trial for graft

Irawaty Wardany ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 01/10/2009 10:19 AM  |  National

Aulia Pohan and three other former Bank Indonesia (BI) deputy governors are expected to stand trial soon for their alleged roles in the embezzlement of Rp 100 billion (US$9.1 million) from the central bank.

"Their case files have been handed over to prosecutors and their detainment has also been extended *for two weeks* from today until Jan. 28, 2009," Aulia's lawyer Amir Karyatin told the press at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) building Friday.

Aulia, the father-in law of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's son, and three other suspects in the case -- Bun Bunan Hutapea, Aslim Tadjuddin and Maman Soemantri -- attended the KPK to complete their dossiers earlier in the day.

The four suspects are accused of involvement in the misuse of funds distributed in 2003 from the BI Indonesian Banking Development Foundation (YPPI).

The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) later discovered there were no receipts or official records to show the money was legally accessed or used.

Around Rp 65.5 billion of the allegedly misused funds were spent on the legal expenses of five former BI officials -- Iwan R. Prawiranata, Paul Sutopo, Hendro Budiyanto, Heru Supraptomo and Soedradjat Djiwandono -- then implicated in BI Liquidity Support (BLBI) corruption cases.

The remaining Rp 31.5 billion was distributed to members of the Commission IX overseeing financial and banking issues at the House of Representatives in an attempt to smooth the political settlement of BLBI corruption cases and speed up the amendment of a BI law.

"I think the trial should start between the ninth and the 28th of this month," Amir said.

KPK director for prosecution Ferri Wibisono said his office would file the dossiers to the court within 10 days.

All four suspects are charged with violating Article 2 (1) of the 1999 law against corruption, which protects the state from losses due to illegal financial gains made by individuals or corporations.

The same article saw former BI governor Burhanuddin Abdullah, and his two senior subordinates -- Oey Hoey Tiong and Rusli Simanjuntak -- sentenced to five years and four years respectively in prison last year in October.

Two lawmakers, Hamka Yandhu and Antony Zeidra Abidin, were jailed for three and four-and-a half years respectively Wednesday for receiving a portion of the money from the embezzled BI funds.

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