The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has pledged to continue its investigation of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati’s role in the Bank Century bailout, even if she takes a position at the World Bank.
KPK deputy chairman Bibit Samad Rianto told the House of Representatives’ Bank Century monitoring team Wednesday the antigraft body did not see Mulyani’s appointment as something that could hinder her future questioning.
“The World Bank is still in the world. As long as she is on Earth, we can always find her,” he said.
“We also do not mind if we have to visit Washington DC to question her. We did that in the past when inquiring a Bank Indonesia official over a case”.
The House declared Mulyani and Vice President Boediono responsible for the bailout, which it said was flawed as it ballooned tenfold to Rp 6.76 trillion (US$716 million) from its original estimate. The legislative body also recommended legal measures against them.
KPK investigators have questioned Boediono once and Mulyani twice over the past week in connection with the bailout. The much-awaited questioning, however, took place at the two state officials’ respective offices, sparking protests from lawmakers who initiated the House’s inquiry into the controversial bailout.
In its defense, the KPK said a questioning could take place anywhere as long as it could obtain all data it needed to build a strong case.
While the investigation was underway, World Bank president Robert Zoellick sent a letter to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to ask for Mulyani’s service at the prestigious financial institution.
Mulyani will reportedly start her term as a World Bank managing director from June 1 and President Yudhoyono has approved her resignation from the Finance Ministry.
The monitoring team’s meeting with the KPK prematurely ended when another KPK deputy chairman, Chandra M. Hamzah, told the legislators the antigraft body had not received all documents pertaining to the Bank Century bailout from the House.
Chandra said the only document the commission had received was a five-page letter signed by House Speaker Marzukie Alie.
Chandra’s statement immediately sparked a heated debate among legislators.
Fahri Hamzah from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and Gayus Lumbuun from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said House leaders must explain what happened to the documents.
Deputy House speaker Priyo Budi Santoso said he was surprised the KPK had not received the documents, adding the House would investigate the issue.
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