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KPK, BPK play blame game as Andi remains free

This much: Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) chairman Hadi Poernomo (left) and his secretary-general Hendar Ristriawan brief journalists in Jakarta on Tuesday on the progress of the audit of the graft-ridden Hambalang sports complex development

Margareth S. Aritonang (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Wed, May 29, 2013

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KPK, BPK play blame game as Andi remains free This much: Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) chairman Hadi Poernomo (left) and his secretary-general Hendar Ristriawan brief journalists in Jakarta on Tuesday on the progress of the audit of the graft-ridden Hambalang sports complex development. (Antara/Widodo S. Jusuf) (BPK) chairman Hadi Poernomo (left) and his secretary-general Hendar Ristriawan brief journalists in Jakarta on Tuesday on the progress of the audit of the graft-ridden Hambalang sports complex development. (Antara/Widodo S. Jusuf)

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span class="inline inline-none">This much: Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) chairman Hadi Poernomo (left) and his secretary-general Hendar Ristriawan brief journalists in Jakarta on Tuesday on the progress of the audit of the graft-ridden Hambalang sports complex development. (Antara/Widodo S. Jusuf)

The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) refuses to take blame for the sluggish pace of the probe into the graft-ridden Hambalang project, saying that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had sole authority over the case.

BPK chief Hadi Purnomo said in a press conference at BPK headquarters in Jakarta on Tuesday that his agency was not to blame for the fact that the main suspect in the case, former youth and sports minister Andi Mallarangeng, remained free, six months after being named a suspect.

'€œThe BPK'€™s role is to audit and the authority to detain [a suspect] is with the law enforcers, whether it be the police, the attorney general or the KPK. So, auditing state losses [from the Hambalang project] has nothing to do with the decision to detain a suspect,'€ said Hadi.

KPK chairman Abraham Samad said over the weekend that investigators could only detain Andi as soon as the BPK completed its second audit on the Hambalang project, which resulted in at least Rp 243.6 billion (US$25.4 million) in state losses.

In its first audit, the BPK found that Andi was responsible for the scandal as he failed in his role of overseeing the project, a lapse that encouraged the ministry'€™s then secretary, Wafid Muharram, to make crucial decisions on the project, which eventually led to the misuse of funds.

Abraham said that Andi remained free as the KPK was still waiting for an audit from the BPK on the flow of funds to a number of subcontractors, including PT Dutasari Citralaras, which is allegedly owned by Athiyyah Laila, the wife of former Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum. Anas has also been named a suspect in the case.

The BPK found in the first audit that PT Dutasari Citralaras allegedly caused Rp 75.7 billion in state losses through construction material procurement.

Governor of Bank of Indonesia Agus Martowardojo was also cited as responsible for approving a budget proposal from the Youth and Sports Ministry without seeking clarification from Andi.

Hadi said on Tuesday that the current audit would surprise the public when it was revealed.

He would only further disclose that the BPK had questioned 83 individuals, lawmakers, government officials and businessmen, some of whom might also be implicated in the case.

Also on Tuesday, KPK investigators questioned lawmaker Ignatius Mulyono from the Democratic Party as a witness for Teuku Bagus Mohammad Noer, a director of PT Adhi Karya, a state construction company that won the contract to build the sports complex.

Ignatius allegedly received illegal advance payments of Rp 189 billion.

'€œI was asked questions about Teuku Bagus. I said that I didn'€™t know him,'€ Ignatius said.

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