'€œHe was questioned in relation to the investigation into the issuance of clearance letters in settling the BLBI,'€ said KPK spokesman Johan Budi as quoted by kompas.com.

He said the KPK questioned the former minister as he was considered to have knowledge of the mechanisms governing the issuance of the letters.

The issuance of clearance letters was implemented by a mechanism established by the now-defunct Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (BPPN) based on Presidential Instruction No. 8/2002 on release and discharge.

The regulation was issued by former president Megawati Soekarnoputri after receiving input from her Cabinet ministers, including former finance minister Boediono, coordinating economic minister Dorodjatun Kuntjoro Jakti and Laksamana Sukardi.

The clearance letters offered a guarantee to debtors who fulfilled their obligations that they would be released from legal procedures. This mechanism was known as "release and discharge".

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.

During its investigation, the KPK has questioned several other former ministers allegedly involved in the issuance of clearance letters.

They are Dorodjatun; Rizal Ramli, former coordinating economic minister in 2000-2001 and finance minister in 2001; Bambang Subiyanto, finance minister in 1998-1999; Kwik Kian Gie, coordinating economic minister in 1999-2000 and former National Development Planning Board (Bappenas); and former BPPN head I Putu Gede Ary Suta. (fan/ebf)

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