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KPK steps up probe into BLBI case
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The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters in South Jakarta. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari)
T
he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has stepped up its investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding the disbursement of Bank Indonesia liquidity support (BLBI) by summoning more people linked to the case.
On Friday, the antigraft body planned to question Bank Dagang National Indonesia owner Sjamsul Nursalim and his wife Itjih Nursalim as witnesses for Syafruddin Arsyad Temenggung, the former Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) chairman who has been named a suspect in the case.
“We sent a summons letter to both witnesses to their places of residence in Singapore. Unfortunately, they can’t come for the questioning,” KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said.
Read also: Government on hunt for $2.3b in BLBI funds
Besides the couple, investigators have also summoned former high-ranking IBRA official Thomas Maria to dig deeper into the process leading to the “release and discharge” letters at the agency.
The move was taken after the South Jakarta District Court rejected a pre-trial motion from Syafruddin in early August.
Syafruddin issued a letter for Sjamsul freeing the latter from the obligation to pay Rp 3.7 trillion (around US$277 million) in debt owed to the government, which disbursed the funds under the BLBI scheme.
The case reportedly caused Rp 3.7 trillion in state losses. (kuk)
