Govt clears Yusril of suspicion in corruption probe
JAKARTA (JP): The government heightened the intrigue on the names of ministers investigated for corruption when it said that Minister of Law and Legislation Yusril Ihza Mahendra was not among them and that the alleged graft had nothing to do with the Bank Bali scandal.
A brief statement released by the State Secretariat on Wednesday said the President had instructed the attorney general to conduct an investigation into the possible involvement of several ministers in corruption.
It went on to say that the minister of law and legislation had met with the President.
"The President asserts that at this moment the law and legislation minister is not among the ministers (being investigated)," said the statement, which was issued following a meeting between Abdurrahman, Attorney General Marzuki Darusman and Yusril at the State Guest House on Wednesday morning.
The alleged involvement of ministers in graft came to the fore last week during a visit to the United States when Abdurrahman conceded three members of his Cabinet were allegedly involved in corruption.
"Corruption should be eradicated from the top down to the lower echelons. Therefore, I am now quietly preparing replacements for the three ministers," Abdurrahman said in Salt Lake City.
While the President has never disclosed their names, the rumor mill has been working overtime with Yusril, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Poverty Eradication Hamzah Haz and Minister of Manpower Bomer Pasaribu often being cited.
Media reports have alleged that Yusril, who chairs the Crescent Star Party, received campaign funds of some Rp 1.5 billion from former president B.J. Habibie.
Hamzah was also alleged to have received money from Habibie while Bomer was accused of misusing funds from the state-owned PT Jamsostek, which runs social and security programs for workers.
Bank
Later in the day Marzuki confirmed that an investigation of the ministers suspected of corruption was underway.
"Yes, I have been instructed by the President to continue the investigation," Marzuki told The Jakarta Post by phone.
Marzuki, however, refused to mention the names and to confirm the number of Cabinet members that were being investigated.
"At this point, I cannot disclose the number or names of the ministers for the sake of presumption of innocence," Marzuki said.
He said he would report to the President as soon as possible if there were any "significant findings" in the investigation.
"I cannot determine the schedule at this point, but it will have to be as soon as possible," Marzuki said.
During a hearing with the House of Representatives Joint Commission on Bank Bali, Marzuki told legislators that the ministers being investigated were "not directly related to the Bank Bali case".
The Bank Bali scandal centers on the bank's payment of Rp 546 billion (US$78 million) to a firm run by Setya Novanto, a leading official in the Golkar party, for the recovery of loans from the Indonesian Banking Restructuring Agency.
Many believe the money was used to finance Habibie's reelection bid and that members of his inner circle were involved in the scandal.
The bank scandal was one of the key factors that led to the downfall of Abdurrahman's predecessor.
A clean government has been the top agenda of the reform movement and Abdurrahman pledged after the inauguration of his Cabinet last month that he would combat corruption to win the people's trust and regain international market confidence. (byg/prb)