Former Minister Questioned By KPK Over BLBI

Jakarta (Antara) - Former chief economic minister Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti was questioned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) here on Tuesday over the issuance of a settlement letter (SKL) in the case of Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI). "We questioned Dorodjatun as a minister from 2001 to 2004 in the case of SKL BLBI," KPK spokesman Johan Budi said. Dorodjatun who left the KPK office at around 5.30pm declined to comment on his questioning. "It is secret," he said. KPK questioned former chief economic minister in the 2000-2001 period, Rizal Ramli, and former finance minister for the period of 1998-1999, Bambang Subianto, on April 12 in connection with the case. Former chief economic minister of the 1999-2000 period and head of the National Development Planning Board of the 2001-2004 period, Kwik Kian Gie, had also been questioned on April 2 over the case. KPK set up four teams to settle the case which was formerly handled by the Attorney General's Office. One of the team handles cases that have been closed by the AGO due to the issuance of SKL including that of Sjamsul Nursalim, the former majority shareholder of former Bank Dagang Nasional Indonesia (BDNI), worth Rp28.4 trillion. Based on the results of examination on the settlement of shareholders' obligations (PKPS) by the State Audit Board, the value of Salim's assets handed over to the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (BPPN) for the settlement of its BLBI was only 36.7 percent or Rp19.38 trillion out of Rp52.72 trillion worth of BLBI that Salim had to settle. The mechanism for the issuance of SKL by BPPN was based on Presidential Instruction Number 8 of 2002 under then President Megawati Soekarnoputri following inputs from finance minister Boediono, chief economic minister Dorodjatun and state enterprises minister Laksamana Soekardi. Kwik said during questioning at the AGO that he had always rejected the SKL but had always been defeated in his argument. (*)