The National Police have been unnerved by legislators’ pressure to release lawmaker Muhammad Misbakhun who was arrested on charges of falsifying a letter of credit to obtain US$22.5 million from Bank Century.
As of Wednesday, 33 lawmakers had signed a petition, demanding the police release the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician on the grounds that his detention was politically motivated.
National Police chief detective Comr. Gen. Ito Sumardi said Misbakhun’s detention was justified for the purposes of the investigation.
“To detain or release a suspect is our authority. My detectives must have a good reason to keep Misbakhun in detention,” Ito said.
The petitioners include well-known figures including Fahri Hamzah, Nasir Djamil, Hidayat Nur Wahid and Adang Daradjatun of the PKS; Budiman Sudjatmiko and Gayus Lumbuun of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P); Ahmad Muzani of the Great Indonesian Movement Party (Gerindra); Akbar Faizal of the People’s Conscience Party (Hanura); Bambang Soesatyo of the Golkar Party; and Lily Wahid of the National Awakening Party (PKB).
“We, 33 lawmakers, guarantee that Misbakhun will not escape if he is released,” Bambang said.
Critics have said the lawmakers’ pressure was a form of political intervention into Misbakhun’s legal affairs.
Nasir said he would not force the police to accept the request. “But I am optimistic next week our request will be granted,” he said.
Police arrested Misbakhun on Monday after he underwent his first questioning session as a suspect for allegedly submitting fictitious documents in an application for a Letter of Credit (L/C) from Bank Century (now rebranded Bank Mutiara).
Misbakhun is charged with Article 266 of the Criminal Code on false documentation carrying a maximum sentence of eight years in prison.
In 2007, Misbakhun’s trading company, PT Selalang Prima International, received $22.5 million in credit from Bank Century.
The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) later found that the bank had allegedly disbursed illegal letters of credit to 10 companies including PT Selalang Prima International.
Misbakhun was one of the political initiators of the inquiry into the Rp 6.76 trillion Bank Century bailout.
Ito denied that the investigation into Misbakhun was politically charged.
The inquiry ended with a parliamentary plenary session last month concluding that the bailout had caused state losses and recommending legal institutions investigate the bailout further.
“What we are doing in the Misbakhun case is actually a follow up of House of Representatives’ recommendation.
We know that one of the reasons Bank Century collapsed was the irregular letters of credit,” Ito said.
