Century committee set to confiscate BPK audit report

Hans David Tampobolon ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 02/02/2010 9:51 AM  |  National

Take my hand: House of Representatives’ inquiry committee members (right to left) Yahya Sacawiria, Gayus Lumbuun, Idrus Marham and Mahfudz Siddiq chat after meeting Supreme Court chief Harifin Tumpa at the latter’s office Monday. JP/Nurhayati
The House of Representatives’ inquiry committee probing into the Century case is seeking authorization from a district court to confiscate the audit report of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).
The committee submitted its request to the Central Jakarta District Court after consulting about its move with the Supreme Court on Monday. 
The audit report will be used to confirm the validity of the bailout disbursement report, already being compiled by the Financial Transaction and Analysis Center (PPATK).
The BPK refused to give its audit report on the disbursement, citing that the 2006 BPK Law prevented the institution from doing so as it stipulated that the agency was not authorized to give its audit report on any investigation regarding cash disbursement to a third party to prevent misuse.
BPK Chairman Hadi Purnomo said Friday that the agency could give its audit report to the House only under a direct order of the district court.
The committee leaders — Golkar Party’s Idrus Marham, Gayus Lumbuun from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Mahfudz Siddiq from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), and Yahya Sacawiria from the Democratic Party – met with the Supreme Court chief justice, Harifin Tumpa.
“We wanted to consult with the Supreme Court to ask if a confiscation warrant from the district court was the right measure,” Idrus told reporters at the House, after returning from the meeting.
“The Supreme Court chief justice told us that it was the most proper thing to do.”
Gayus said he was convinced the warrant would be issued as soon as possible.
“I believe the process will be swift and quick. We will have the legal power to confiscate or copy the audit report.”
Mahfudz stressed that it was essential for the committee to conduct a reconstruction of the series of events that led to the bailout of the bank.
“We have the recordings, which must be played in full before the committee, so that we can gain a comprehensive understanding of the case,” he said.
Mahfudz was referring to the recordings of meetings that led to the Rp 6.76 trillion (US$716 million) bailout decision.
“As of now, we have only listened and read to parts of the transcript,” he said.
The Century case is believed to be politically connected, with two of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s most trusted aides blamed for bailing out the ailing bank.
The authorization was granted in November 2008 by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and then Bank Indonesia governor Boediono, now Vice President. The bailout became a scandal when the public found out that its total cost had gone up 10 fold to Rp 6.76 trillion (US$716 million) from its original estimate.
There is still some speculation among observers that Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party may have received a portion of the bailout money during the 2009 presidential campaign.
The committee believed the analytical data from the BPK, the highest audit authority in the country, was vital to confirm the PPATK’s fund disbursement report.