T

he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) resumed an investigation on Thursday, after a year-long hiatus, into former president Megawati Soekarnoputri'€™s Bank Indonesia liquidity support (BLBI) case.

The antigraft body collected testimony from then coordinating economic minister Dorodjatun Kuntjoro -Jakti to build its case, which revolves around Megawati'€™s issuance of Presidential Decree No. 8/2002, which regulated the '€œrelease and discharge'€ of recipients of the Rp 702 trillion BLBI fund to pay their debts.

Although a number of former ministers have been questioned in the case, the antigraft body has yet to name a suspect as of today, claiming that it still needs to collect testimonies from as many witnesses as possible to build up its case against alleged perpetrators.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi refused to elaborate on Dorodjatun'€™s questioning, saying that the investigation was still in its early phase and revealing details could hamper ongoing efforts.

'€œIt is still a preliminary investigation,'€ Johan said at the KPK headquarters on Thursday.

The antigraft body grilled Dorodjatun for two hours. After his questioning he declined to give any comments to reporters regarding his role in the case.

Earlier in August, KPK chairman Abraham Samad hinted at the possibility of questioning Megawati about her capacity as former president for the 2001-2004 period, but as of today the KPK has yet to put Megawati'€™s name on its questioning schedule.

'€œWe have no doubts about questioning [Megawati] in the case. I will soon meet with investigators to discuss the possible questioning [of Megawati]. Everyone is equal before the law. We questioned [former] vice president Boediono [in the Bank Century case] in the past,'€ Abraham said.

The clearance policy was issued by Megawati, who is the long-serving chairwoman of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), after receiving input from her Cabinet ministers, including former finance minister Boediono and former state-owned enterprises (SOE) minister Laksamana Sukardi.

Other former ministers who have been grilled by KPK are Rizal Ramli, former coordinating economic minister in 2000-2001 and finance minister in 2001; Bambang Subianto, finance minister in 1998-1999; Kwik Kian Gie, coordinating economic minister in 1999-2000 and former national development planning minister; and former now-defunct Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (BPPN) head I Putu Gede Ary Suta.

The clearance letters offered a guarantee to debtors who fulfilled their obligations that they would be released from legal procedures.

Bob Hasan, Sjamsul Nursalim and the Nin King were among the tycoons who were given clearance letters and benefitted from the release and discharge mechanism provided by the government.

In June 22, 2013, the antigraft body also questioned former industry and trade minister Rini Mariani Soemarno Soewandi, a confidant of Megawati. Rini has a chummy relationship with Megawati and often travels with the former president.

'€” JP/Haeril Halim