KPK Questions Former Bank Restructuring Agency Chief in BLBI Graft Investigation
Jakarta. The national antigraft agency on Thursday (09/11) questioned a former chairman of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency, or BPPN, as a witness in an ongoing investigation into irregularities surrounding the disbursement of the Bank Indonesia Liquidity Scheme, known as BLBI.
I Putu Gede Ary Suta was interrogated as a witness in the case against his successor, Syafruddin Arsyad Temenggung, who was named a suspect in April in the prolonged investigation by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) into the high-profile BLBI case.
The scheme saw the Indonesian government disburse Rp 144.5 trillion ($10.69 billion) to 48 commercial banks during the Asian financial crisis of 1997-98.
Bank Dagang Nasional Indonesia received Rp 28 trillion and was obliged to return Rp 4.8 trillion, but former BPPN chairman Syafruddin issued a letter releasing the bank's owner, Sjamsul Nursalim, from an obligation to pay the remaining Rp 3.7 trillion.
"Witness I Putu Gede Ary Suta was questioned to complete the case dossier against suspect S.A.T.," KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said, referring to Syafruddin.
Ary Suta, who was also questioned in June, declined to comment when he emerged from the KPK offices in South Jakarta after nearly seven hours on Thursday.
The KPK launched its investigation into the BLBI case in 2014, but Syafruddin remains the sole suspect in the case.
Dozens of high-profile figures have been questioned as witnesses in the case, including Kwik Kian Gie, former coordinating economic minister, Laksamana Sukardi, a former state-owned enterprises minister, and Artalyta Suryani, a long-time associate of Sjamsul.
The KPK this week also questioned Jusup Agus Sayono, a director at tire producer Gajah Tunggal, which was owned by Sjamsul.
Syafruddin has twice been questioned as a suspect in the case, while Sjamsul has so far failed to comply with three KPK summonses. Sjamsul and his wife Itjih Nursamlim live in Singapore.
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