P

olice claim to have found evidence Bank Century issued a bogus letter of credit worth US$22.5 million a company owned by Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician Muhammad Misbakhun.

The company, PT Selalang Prima Internasional, is one of 10 that allegedly received loans using fictitious letters of credit worth up to $26 million from the troubled bank - later renamed Bank Mutiara after a government bailout worth Rp 6.76 trillion.

As of Tuesday, Police had announced plans to investigate only PT Selalang, but not the other nine.

National Police spokesman Comr. Gen. Ito Sumardi said here Monday the evidence had been presented to the National Police leadership at a "case expose" in Jakarta after questioning witnesses.

"We will have to find names," Ito said, adding that the "evidence" needed to be verified with data from related agencies including the State Audit Agency (BPKP) and Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).

"Solid evidence would allow us to investigate this case free from political pressure," Ito said.

"If this is a criminal case, we will treat it accordingly."

Police began their investigations of the allegedly fictitious letters of credit following a recent order from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Misbakhun, known as one of the initiators of the recent legislative inquiry into Bank Century bailout, who received the loan in 2007, is the best-known among the l/c beneficiaries.

Misbakhun came under the media spotlight after his loan was reported to police by Andi Arief, a presidential special staffer for disaster management.

Andi publicized his finding through the media a few days before the House was due to decide its recommendations on the bailout case.

During the House of Representatives inquiry into the bailout, the PKS, a party in the ruling coalition, had voiced fierce opposition to the government's bailout decision, targeting Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indarwati and Vice President Boediono.

In the vote to decide the House's verdict on the case, the PKS opposed the government and Yudhoyono's Democratic Party, which said the decision to bail out the bank was not flawed.

The PKS' stance prompted several lawmakers from the Democratic Party to label PKS politicians "traitors".

Misbakhun has also filed a counter complaint (against Andi).

Ito said police had not established when they would summon Misbakhun or other parties for questioning.

Misbakhun refused to comment on the latest development, saying only his lawyers would represent him.

How Much Did They Get?

1. PT Polymer Spectrum: US$18m
2. PT Trio Irama: US$11m
3. PT Selalang Prima Internasional: US$22.5m
4. PT Sinar Central Sandang: US$26.5m
5. PT Petrobas Indonesia: US$4.3m
6. PT Citra Senantiasa Abadi: US$20m
7. PT Dwi Putra Mandiri: US$10m
8. PT Damar Kristal Mas: US$21.5m
9. PT Sakti Perdaya Raya: US$24m
10. PT Energy Quantum: US$10m