Bukaka implicated in BNI scandal

Bukaka implicated in BNI scandal

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla revealed
on Monday that PT Bukaka Marga Utama received Rp 4.5 billion
(US$530,128) from a person involved in the Bank Negara Indonesia
(BNI) scandal.

However, he was quick to add that he had sold his shares in
the company in 1997, leaving Gorontalo Governor Fadel Muhammad as
sole owner of the firm.

"There is a person who bought the right to build a toll road
in Sukabumi from Bukaka four months ago. This project belonged to
Fadel Muhammad and PT Jasa Marga," said Kalla, adding that Bukaka
did not know where the money came from.

Kalla's revelation constituted the first confirmation ever of
speculations that part of the Rp 1.7 trillion BNI paid for 41
bogus letters of credit issued by some questionable overseas
banks went to companies other than those intended.

His statement, however, fell short of confirming rampant
rumors that part of the money also landed in the hands of three
presidential candidates from Golkar.

Fadel, former owner of business conglomerate Bukaka Group, is
still one of the treasurers of Golkar, the political bandwagon of
former president Soeharto. Kalla, on the other hand, is one of
the seven presidential candidates of Golkar.

Two other candidates, Gen. (ret) Wiranto and Golkar chairman
Akbar Tandjung, previously denied suggestions that the party's
presidential candidates had received money from BNI scandal
suspects.

According to Kalla, the transaction was a routine business
deal.

The project mentioned was a 53.5-kilometer toll road linking
Ciawi with Sukabumi, both in West Java, with a total value of Rp
850.2 billion. In that project, Bukaka owned an 80 percent
shareholding, with the remainder belonging to state-owned PT Jasa
Marga.

Meanwhile, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar vowed on
Monday that his investigators would question everyone believed to
be connected with the flow of BNI money.

"We shall summon every relevant actor connected to the
scandal, including those who have received money from the main
suspects," said Da'i.

National Police economic crimes division director Brig. Gen.
Samuel Ismoko said he would interrogate all the recipients of the
money, including politicians if necessary.

"If possible, we shall ask politicians suspected of having
received the money. However, we have not gone that far," said
Samuel. He added that his division had questioned 22 witnesses in
the case, including two foreign banks, ABN Amro and Standard
Chartered.

Police have held eight suspects in custody to intensively
interrogate them following this high-profile scandal. They are
the head of BNI Kebayoran Baru branch, Koesadiyono, and BNI
Foreign Customer Division head Edy Santoso, the owner of PT
Bassomasindo, Jeffry Basso, the director of PT Pan Kifros,
Aprilla Widharta, Judhi Basso of PT Bassamindo, the director of
PT Gramarindo Mega Indonesia, Olla Abdullah Agam, the director of
PT Metrantara, Richard Kountul and the director of PT Magnetique
Usaha Esa Indonesia, Adrian Lumowa.

Meanwhile, State Minister of State Enterprises Laksamana
Sukardi said on Monday that the National Police and the Attorney
General's Office should investigate seriously the financial scam
at BNI because the case was currently linked to other "issues."

"We shall ask the police and prosecutors to seriously
investigate the case so that it can be resolved comprehensively,"
said Laksamana on the sidelines of a ceremony to mark the listing
of state-owned Bank Rakyat Indonesia on the Jakarta Stock
Exchange.

He said that due to the lack of internal control, several BNI
directors would be dismissed because of their incompetence in
preventing the scam.