Misbakhun drops out of BPK race

JAKARTA. Golkar Party politician M. Misbakhun has quit the race for the membership of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), saying he would rather focus more on his legislative bid.

The presence of Misbakhun, a former lawmaker who is also a graft convict, in the race, had raised concerns over the quality of the selection process for the BPK post.

The House of Representatives Commission XI on financial affairs is currently hosting a two-day fit-and-proper-test for 22 candidates to replace retiring BPK official Taufiqurahman Ruki, a former chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

"My reason to withdraw myself from the race is because I want to focus on my legislative candidacy," Misbakhun said on Tuesday.

Before joining Golkar this year, Misbakhun was a member of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

Misbakhun is one of the initiators of the legislative inquiry into the controversial Rp 6.76 trillion (US$682.5 billion) bailout of Bank Century, which subsequently led to him being convicted of falsifying a document to get a loan from the bank, now renamed Bank Mutiara. He was then removed from the House.

The Supreme Court, which previously upheld a ruling by the Jakarta High Court sentencing the politician to two years in jail, acquitted Misbakhun of all charges in July 2012. (The Jakarta Post)