0 KPK to grill Sri Mulyani in US as Anas breathes new life into Century

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will question former finance minister Sri Mulyani in the US about the Bank Century bailout, the leader of the commission told members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday. KPK chairman Abraham Samad said that a team of investigators would go to Washington to question the former minister, now a World Bank managing director, over irregularities in the 2008 disbursement of Rp 6.7 trillion (US$700 million) of state funds to save the bank. 

Some lawmakers believe Sri Mulyani and then Bank Indonesia governor Vice President Boediono have a case to answer regarding the controversial bailout. The KPK wants to start making headway in the investigation. “We find it difficult to ask her to come to our office due to her busy schedule, so we’ve decided to go there instead to speed up our investigation,” said Abraham. The KPK named BI deputy governors Budi Mulia and Siti Chalimah Fadjrijah as suspects last November, but no other suspects have since been named. Chalimah claims to be too ill to undergo questioning. 

The KPK’s plan comes as the House committee monitoring the Bank Century affair began pursuit of former Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum for new information. It has been suggested that the bailout funds were used to finance in part President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s 2009 reelection campaign. Democratic Party politicians have repeatedly dismissed the allegation and now question the committee’s decision to summon and question Anas, saying their former leader’s testimony was irrelevant. 

The committee, however, is convinced that Anas has valuable information that could help expedite the bailout investigation, if he can be persuaded to talk to them. Anas has been called to testify at the House on March 20. A small team of nine lawmakers representing each of the nine factions at the House is scheduled to visit Anas next Monday to gather preliminary information. 

The team will be led by Fahri Hamzah from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and will include lawmakers Didi Irawadi Syamsuddin from the Democratic Party, Bambang Soesatyo from Golkar, Hendrawan Supratikno from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Ahmad Yani from the United Development Party (PPP), Nur Yasin from the National Awakening Party (PKB), Chandra Tirta Wijaya from the National Mandate Party (PAN), Supriyanto from the Great Indonesian Movement (Gerindra) Party and Syarifuddin Suding from the People’s Conscience Party (Hanura). 

“We all agree that Anas has essential information that will help speed up the Bank Century investigation. We will first see him to verify the kind of information he has and ensure that he will come to testify before the legislative inquiry,” Hendrawan said after meeting KPK leaders. Anas, who has had no scruples about attacking his former colleagues in the Demoratic Party following his naming as a graft suspect last week, is reportedly planning to publicly wash the party’s dirty laundry, piece by piece, including the Century affair. 

Anas has reportedly discussed the Century case with colleagues from the Association of Islamic Students Alumni (Kahmi), including former Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) chief Anwar Nasution, People’s Conscience Party (Hanura) politician Yuddy Chrisnandi and House Deputy Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso. Anwar was the lead auditor on the Century case.

source : the jakarta post