BPK stands between House, bailout

The public will remain in the dark about possible fraud in the Rp 6.76 trillion (US$716 million) bailout money to Bank Century in 2008 as the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) has insisted on withholding its analytical data concerning the fund disbursement.

BPK chairman Hadi Purnomo said Friday the law prevented the agency from handing over key data to the House of Representatives' inquiry committee into the case.

"There is a legality we cannot breach," Hadi told committee members during a joint meeting with Bank Indonesia interim governor Darmin Nasution and Financial Transaction Reports Analysis Center (PPATK) chief Junus Hussein.

Hadi was referring to the 2006 BPK Law, which bans the agency from leaking its confidential audits to anyone, to prevent potential misuse.

"We can only provide our data if there is an official order from the court to have it confiscated," Hadi said.

BPK data is needed to confirm the bailout fund disbursement report, compiled by the PPATK.

A number of committee members such as Gayus Lumbuun from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), insisted that the BPK give the inquiry committee access to the data, citing the 1954 Inquiry Team Law authorizing lawmakers the right to data with or without a court order.

Committee member from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party, Benny Kabur Harman, defended the BPK, saying the agency was protected by the law to not leak investigation reports.

Hadi's persistence prompted committee member Akbar Faisal from the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) to walk out of the meeting.

"I'm very disappointed," he said. "We, the House committee, hold a mandate from the people. I don't want to circle the issue in an endless debate over some regulation."

In addition, Supreme Court Chief Justice Harifin Tumpa did not attend the meeting.

Deputy House Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso said Harifin had declined the House's invitation, saying he wanted the Supreme Court to maintain its independence.

A number of committee members expressed disappointment at Harifin's absence.

"Why did the Supreme Court chief justice attend a meeting with President *Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono* at Bogor Palace recently?" Maruarar Sirait from the PDI-P said.

Yudhoyono met with state institution leaders, including Harifin and Hadi, earlier this month. The meeting discussed, among other issues, the impeachment process.

The impeachment discourse has been rife as the House inquiry into the Bank Century debacle moves closer to its finale. The Golkar Party, for example, is mulling a motion of impeachment for Vice President Boediono, according to party chairman at the House Setya Novanto.

The bailout was signed on November 2008 by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Boediono, who was then BI governor.

Speculation has arisen that the Democratic Party received a portion of the bailout fund. Yudhoyono has dismissed the accusation.