Top BI official received Rp 1 billion ahead of bailout: Audit agency
Bagus BT Saragih and Esther Samboh, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 10/04/2011 10:03 AM
A forensic audit by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) insinuated that a Bank Indonesia (BI) high official had received Rp 1 billion (US$112,000) from a former Bank Century commissioner two months before the central bank decided to disburse Rp 689 billion in financial aid to the ailing bank in 2008, a lawmaker said on Monday.
Bambang Soesatyo, a member of the Golkar Party and of the House of Representatives’ supervisory team overseeing the bailout, said BPK audit officials had found possible financial transactions between Budi Mulya, a deputy BI governor, and Robert Tantular, a former owner of Bank Century, now re-branded as Bank Mutiara.
“Budi received more than Rp 1 billion from Robert,” Bambang said.
Robert allegedly transferred Rp 1 billion through Bank Century to Budi in September 2008.
About a month later, Bank Century, which faced serious liquidity problems, filed an official request to Bank Indonesia for short-term assistance (FPJP).
The request was not immediately approved because Bank Century’s capital adequacy ratio (CAR) did not meet the minimum requirements for FPJP aid.
A high-ranking official meeting took place at Bank Indonesia on Nov. 13, 2008, which was also attended by Budi, where it was decided to revise the regulation and allow the bank’s eligibility for assistance.
A day after the meeting, the central bank disbursed the first installment of the FPJP aid to the ailing bank amounting to Rp 365 billion. The FPJP failed to help the bank recover and the government decided to disburse Rp 6.76 trillion ($757.12 million) to bailout the bank.
Robert’s lawyer, Triyanto, confirmed that his client had sent Rp 1 billion in checks to Budi but denied that they were linked to the FPJP.
“The money was a loan for Pak Budi, who was attempting to purchase land in Kuningan, South Jakarta,” he said.
According to Triyanto, Robert was offered “a business” if he was willing to give Budi the money. “However, Robert found out the business was not feasible and Budi returned the money to my client in January, 2009,” he said.
BI spokesman Difi Johansyah confirmed the bank transfer to Budi was for a private loan but could not take any action against Budi until the BPK released its official report concerning the transfer.
