KPK needs more time for Century report

JAKARTA: The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has delayed its announcement on its latest findings of its preliminary investigation into the Bank Century bailout controversy before the House of Representatives’ monitoring team for two weeks, until June 13.

The KPK had been scheduled to present the new developments in the case on Wednesday after it was revealed that the KPK’s 20-strong investigative team had made some progress in the case.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said on Wednesday that his office needed to “finalize its findings first” before presenting them before the lawmakers.

“Last night, KPK leaders decided to postpone the meeting with the House as the KPK needs to update its pre-investigation into the case,” Johan said. “We requested the delay from the House’s monitoring team and they agreed.”

Johan, however, declined to reveal any details about the case’s progress; nor would he say whether the finalization would lead the KPK to upgrade its investigation from a preliminary inquiry.

The KPK opened the preliminary investigation in late 2009 and has questioned more than 96 witnesses since then, but it has not named a single suspect, saying that more evidence is needed.

Bank Century was renamed Bank Mutiara in October 2009, with the government planning to sell the bank to recover the bailout funds.

KPK chairman Abraham Samad has vowed that the commission will complete the Bank Century bailout case by the end of this year, saying that the KPK was giving serious attention to handling the case.