KPK to target ‘big fish’ in Bank Century case

JAKARTA. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) pledged Wednesday that it would soon complete its prosecution of other individuals, mostly in important political positions, implicated in the 2008 Bank Century bailout, which resulted in more than Rp 7 trillion (US$573 million) in state losses.

KPK deputy chairman Zulkarnain said that KPK leaders were optimistic that the antigraft body could finish individual prosecutions before their terms expired in December 2015.

“As time is running out, we are currently stepping up our efforts to solve other big cases, including the Bank Century case, before our tenure ends next year,” Zulkarnain said Wednesday.

The conviction of former Bank Indonesia (BI) deputy governor Budi Mulya in July has confirmed the role of other individuals in the controversial bailout, including that of Vice President Boediono, who served as BI governor when the bailout decision was made.

Boediono, who is expected to step down on Oct. 20, has been under the spotlight following the conviction because he held the highest authority when the country’s central bank decided to bailout the ailing bank, which many experts said was not eligible for salvage.

Speculation was rife after the conviction that the KPK would target Boediono soon after he steps down from office, the way the KPK handled two other graft suspects, Hadi Poernomo and Ilham Arief Sirajuddin, who were named suspects shortly after they left office.

Hadi was declared a graft suspect on his last day in office as the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) chairman in late April, while the KPK named Ilham, the Makassar mayor, a graft suspect while he was at a farewell party with his subordinates.

The KPK has regularly launched a fresh investigation into other suspects in cases right after the Jakarta Corruption Court delivered a verdict for an individual in a graft case.

Meanwhile, KPK chairman Abraham Samad remained tight-lipped over the fate of Boediono in the KPK’s investigation into the bailout.

Earlier, KPK commissioner Adnan Pandu Praja confirmed that the KPK would arrest an individual implicated in the Bank Century case.

“Budi Mulya is only the gateway to prosecute others. Right after we hear the result from Jakarta High Court we will make a follow-up move,” Pandu said adding that Budi was currently challenging his conviction at the Jakarta High Court.

Adnan denied suggestions that the antigraft body was being sluggish due to the involvement of big names, such as Boediono.

When asked for more details, Pandu said: “Yes, it is a big fish, but please be patient until we hear the result from the Jakarta High Court.”

The Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced Budi Mulya to a 10-year prison term in July, the first conviction in the Rp 7.4 trillion bailout.

The panel of judges at the court found that Budi Mulya had abused his authority collectively with his colleagues on the BI board of governors: Boediono, former BI senior deputy governor Miranda Goeltom, and then BI deputy governors Siti C. Fadjrijah, Budi Rochadi, Muliaman Hadad, Hartadi Sarwono and Ardhayadi Mitroatmodjo. (Haeril Halim)