Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Darmin Nasution claimed that the central bank was not involved in the recent alleged bribery case with the House of Representatives.
Darmin emphasized that “BI did not bribe and did not command others to bribe” when speaking to the press Friday about widespread rumors that lawmakers had requested Rp 100 billion (US$11.1 million) from the central bank in order to ease the deliberation of BI-related bills and draft budget.
“BI is not the subject here. The subject is other people that are involved [in the bribery case],” he said, referring to BI Employees Association (IPEBI) chairman Agus Santoso.
The bribery rumors were sparked after a meeting between House’s Commission XI on finance and banking and BI on Tuesday.
During the meeting, a central bank official unveiled a request for Rp 100 billion from the commission to ease deliberation of the Financial Services Authority (OJK), currency and transfer funds bills and
draft budget.
The commission vehemently denied the allegation. It was later revealed that the central bank official who spread the rumor was allegedly Agus Santoso.
Darmin — who turned red when asked if the whole bribery story was in fact a scenario set up by the central bank and devised at the institution’s command — said “don’t you dare talk like that”, calling the rumor empty talk.
The whole bribery allegation case has been cleared up between BI, the House’s Commission XI and Agus, as the three parties met to talk over the case, wherein all parties apologized and the problem has been solved, Darmin added.
“[The case] could be a big problem if you make a big fuss out of it, but if you look at it simply, it could be solved,” he said, adding that the central bank would immediately send a letter to the House to explain and confirm its innocence.
“Several members of Commission XI have asked BI to do something about the case. So we have prepared a letter stating that BI never used or asked other people to use money in finalizing the bills or BI’s annual budget,” he said.
Nusron Wahid, a member of the commission involved in the drafting of the BI bills and budget, said Agus’ statement was libelous and called his behavior unethical.
“There was no request [for Rp 100 billion] at all from Commission XI. We are innocent. Agus has tainted the House’s name, especially that of Commission XI. If I were Darmin, I would fire Agus,” he told The Jakarta Post in a text message.
According to Nusron, Darmin apologized to the House and cleared up the rumor that the whole case was BI’s doing.
Nusron added that he was open for investigation by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) if there was any proof that the
commission tried to extort the central bank. “I am willing to quit if there’s proof that of a Commission XI member received bribes from BI.”
Aulia Pohan, a former deputy governor of Bank Indonesia, and three former colleagues at the central bank were jailed last year by the Corruption Court for misusing Rp 100 billion from a foundation run by the bank in 2003.
The funds were partly used to bribe legislators who were conducting an inquiry into the alleged misuse of central bank bailout funds for troubled banks at the height of the 1997-1998 financial crisis. (est)
