Govt clears Yusril of suspicion in corruption probe

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)