AGO to bring into court IBRA bribe scandal
AGO to bring into court IBRA bribe scandal
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Attorney General's Office (AGO) said on Thursday it would
bring into court the alleged corruption case in Bank Niaga
divestment program, once the Police completed the dossier of the
case.
"Whether the case would be proceeded to court, it depends on
the police courage to probe the case. The AGO is ready to proceed
the case into court after receiving the dossier," AGO senior
official Lukman Bachmid said during a gathering with the press.
The gathering was held by the Indonesian Corruption Watch
(ICW), following reports quoting a couple of legislators that the
Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) had given bribes to
certain lawmakers to obtain approval for the divestment of the
government's 51 percent stake in the publicly-listed Bank Niaga.
Legislator Meilono Suwondo of the Indonesian Democratic Party
of Struggle claimed that he had received some US$1,000 from an
IBRA official during a meeting two months ago held to discuss the
Bank Niaga divestment program. He said that he rejected the
money, but some of his colleagues accepted it.
The House of Representatives Commission IX overseeing
financial and state budget affairs, approved on Wednesday IBRA's
plan to sell the Bank Niaga stake to Malaysia's Commerce Asset
Holding Bhd. for Rp 1.05 trillion ($166 million), or Rp 26.5 per
share. The approval was given despite previous protests from
certain legislators over the low price.
Head of House Commission IX Max Moein had denied allegations
that legislators have received money from IBRA.
But Meilono insisted that bribery had been a serious problem
at the House.
"The bribery is a fact. Instead of trying to deny it, we'd
better admit it and find ways to resolve the problem," he said.
He said that this case should be used as a momentum to launch
a serious fight against corruption.
Indira Damayanti Sugondo, a former member of the House,
acknowledged that corruption was rampant within the House,
pointing out as example that government institutions often gave
money to legislators during working meeting so that the House
would approve their proposals.