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Book does not link SBY with Bank Century
George Junus Aditjondro, the author of a controversial book, has denied that his new book links President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with the Bank Century scandal
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eorge Junus Aditjondro, the author of a controversial book, has denied that his new book links President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with the Bank Century scandal.
“I did not say money from Bank Century flowed to the President,” George said in an interview aired by tvOne on Sunday.
“What I said was that one of the biggest customers of Bank Century was Budi Sampoerna, who also contributed funds to the President and his Democratic Party. Budi invested Rp 150 billion [US$15.82 million] inthe Jurnal Nasional [Jurnas] group of publications,” he said.
He said the Jurnas group, including its newspaper, contributed significantly to boosting the profile of Yudhoyono and the Democratic Party in the general elections.
The book, titled Membongkar Gurita Cikeas: Dibalik Skandal Bank Century (Unmasking the Cikeas
Octopus: Behind the Century Scandal) is slated to be officially launched on Wednesday.
The book hints that four foundations linked to Yudhoyono — Puri Cikeas, Mutu Manikam Nusantara, Kepedulian dan Kesetiakawanan and Majelis Dzikir SBY — were used to gain political and financial support, including during the presidential election.
George said the foundations contributed to the success of Yudhoyono and the Democratic Party in the elections.
“For me, Yudhoyono’s one-round victory in the presidential election was not entirely legal. Initially there was a lot of protest but it ceased after the hotel bombings,” he said.
“I just want the government to audit the foundations to make clear whether or not public money was used to finance Yudhoyono and the Democratic Party’s campaign.”
George said the Mutu Manikam Nusantara foundation belonged to Ani Yudhoyono, with Artalita (Suryani) as the treasurer.
“I highlight that the close relationship between Ibu Ani and Artalita contributed to the release of Syamsul Nursalim from the BLBI [Bank Indonesia Liquidity Fund] scandal, as Syamsul also financed Artalita,” he said.
The book is to be released amid public attention to the ongoing investigation of the Rp 6.7 trillion ($710 million) bailout of Bank Century.
The House of Representatives’ inquiry committee has already summoned Vice President Boediono, as the former Bank Indonesia governor, for questioning.
Boediono is considered one of the individuals most responsible for the bailout in November 2008.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Marzuki Alie from the Democratic Party said George’s book was slanderous.
Antara state news agency president director Ahmad Mukhlis Yusuf denied allegations that public service obligations were used to finance the Bravo Media Center, a think tank for Yudhoyono.
