The House of Representatives is very likely to set up the much-awaited inquiry committee to investigate the Bank Century scandal.

The inquiry initiator Bambang Soesatyo of the Golkar Party said as of Monday, 357 lawmakers from eight factions, out of 560 House members, have signed a petition requesting the inquiry. In addition, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party’s 144 lawmakers have agreed to the petition.

“With such huge support, we believe the House will establish the inquiry committee on the Bank Century scandal [at the plenary session] on Tuesday,” Bambang said.

The House’s internal regulation says a petition will be submitted to the plenary session, after a discussion at the Consultative Body, so that an inquiry team can be set up.

The committee’s first step will be to summon, as a priority, the then Bank Indonesia governor Boediono (now Vice President) and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.

“The committee will also summon officials from Bank Century, the Financial Transaction Report and Analysis Center [PPATK] and the Financial System Stability Committee [KSSK],” Bambang said.

“The committee would then evaluate where the [bailout] money went and who received it.”

The committee will comprise 30 legislators: eight from the Democratic Party, six from Golkar, five from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the rest from other factions.

“The problem is who will be elected as the chairman,” said Bambang. “We hope the committee will name its chairman before the recess  period starting Dec. 5.”

The investigation will revolve around the controversial bailout of Bank Century which cost Rp 6.7 trillion (US$716.9 million), a lot more than the initially agreed amount of less than Rp 1 trillion.

Maruarar Sirait from the PDI-P said the number of lawmakers signing the petition would be significant enough for the House speakers to set up an inquiry committee.

The Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum said it was not haram (forbidden in Islamic teaching) if the committee chairman came from the Democratic Party.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) spokesman Johan Budi said the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK)’s audit report on Bank Century was now in the hands of KPK leaders.

“They are evaluating the report and it will be examined by a team [assigned to the Bank Century scandal] within this week,” he said.

He said the result of the case examination would determine the next step for the KPK.

Johan said the BPK report did not give details on funds distributed to individuals or organizations.

Ex-lawmaker Drajad Wibowo said at a Muhammadiyah event that the BPK report showed five state owned firms — identified as PTPN, PTJ, A, BS and PTT — placed over Rp 400 billion with Bank Century.

“We need to find out who told or ordered the state firms to put their money with Bank Century,” he said.

Drajad said the report also showed there was an expense of Rp 187 billion used to pay PT ARM, a consultant company, for several years. He did not elaborate.

The plenary session is expected to be marked by a protest by university students in front of the House.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Boy Rafli Amar hoped the protest would proceed peacefully. He called on protesters not to cause traffic jams along Jl. Gatot Subroto, one of the capital’s main thoroughfare, as has happened before.

Former Muhammadiyah chairman Syafi’i Maarif specifically urged the students to avoid a “bloody
protest”.

Popular

Hundreds of kitchens halt services due to 'pause' in free meals funds

Number of forcibly displaced people dips to 118 million: UN

Failed system, fake research