I refer to a statement made by Djoko Suyanto, a patron of a foundation established by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono supporters, who said that he would have no problem if the foundation received a donation from businessman Djoko Soegiarto Tjandra, a fugitive in the Bank Bali corruption case.
Dear Djoko Suyanto, you may have forgotten? Djoko Soegiarto Tjandra, is a fugitive in the Bank Bali corruption case, and was convicted in the Rp 546-billion Bank Bali scandal.
He was sentenced to two years in jail for misappropriation of funds paid to Bank Bali by Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency. Because he received inside information on the impending court ruling he was able to flee (by private plane to PNG on June 10) the country before the two year sentence was officially handed down.
The same court sentenced former Indonesian Central Bank governor Syahril Sabirin also to two years in jail in the same case, which he now serves in the Cipinang prison in East Jakarta.
Djoko’s Bank Bali was paid US$120 million by then Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) to pay the Bank’s debts and to restructure it. Djoko fled with all or part of those funds.
If Djoko, a sentenced fugitive from the State of Indonesia, contributed to a foundation established by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s supporters and managed by a number of state officials, there is a conflict of interest.
I also wonder why state officials manage a private fund? The argument is that the contribution would not make the foundation “bad” is totally irrelevant. Djoko obviously would not spend money on a foundation linked to the President if he would not expect a favor in return.
Such contribution should have been declined and immediately reported to the AGO. However, the sad point is: the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government should provide the necessary checks and balances in running the country (according to the Constitution.)
However, these branches are no longer independent but subject to strong and corrupt influences from each other as well as private third parties with money. In our country that is the bases that laws are developed and passed (or not), enforced (or not) and sentences meted out (or not; allowing the likes of Djoko to escape justice.) Some would argue and call such a rent-seeking system “lobbying”, others would call it corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN).
Henry Manoe
Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara
