Arifin sees politics behind charges

JAKARTA: Businessman Arifin Panigoro said on Thursday the reinstatement of corruption charges against him were linked to his position as an outspoken politician.

"This is an old story. I invited you here to tell you that this is an old story," Arifin of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) told the media at his residence in South Jakarta.

The spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, Kemas Yahya Rahman, said on Wednesday a dossier on a graft case involving Arifin would soon be submitted to the courts.

Arifin has been implicated in a graft case that revolves around a loan agreement between his company Medco Group and state-owned investment company PT Bahana Pembinaan Usaha Indonesia. The agreement allegedly caused the state US$25 million in losses.

Arifin was declared a suspect in July 2001, but the case was suspended and Arifin completed repaying the debt in August 2002.

"As a good citizen, I will obey the legal process. However, I feel there is some (political) motive behind it," Arifin said.

A former aide to PDI Perjuangan chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is also the President, Arifin has clashed with Megawati recently over several of her decisions to back the incumbents in gubernatorial elections around the country. -- JP