Irawadi resigns from KONI, says Agum

Irawadi resigns from KONI, says Agum

Musthofid
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

Irawadi D. Hanafi, who has been accused of being the brains
behind the illicit transfer of Rp 4 billion (US$500,000) from the
National Sports Council (KONI) to the Indonesian Soccer
Association (PSSI), has resigned as KONI's deputy treasurer, KONI
chairman Agum Gumelar said on Friday.

However, Agum, who also chairs PSSI where Irawadi is the
treasurer, had not been entirely forthcoming about the
resignation until he was urged to reveal the truth.

"I have been told Irawadi is resigning ... he spoke to me
about the resignation," Agum said.

When contacted later in the evening, Irawadi, who was called
in on Wednesday for questioning by the internally established
investigating team, refused to confirm Agum's statement.

"Who said that (I would resign)?...Then ask Pak Agum. I won't
comment at this moment. I have spoken to the investigating team
and we'd better wait for what they will announce," he said.

Irawadi and KONI secretary-general Oyong Karmayudha were the
two officials, whose signatures had made possible the Rp 4
billion fund transfer from KONI's account in Bank BNI to PSSI's
account in Bank Mandiri.

Irawadi, Oyong, and also Agum, who admitted he had not been
informed about the transfer, had said that the move was
encouraged by the intention to get a higher rate of interest at
Bank Mandiri, which however has been denied by the bank's
authorities.

On Friday, Agum also announced that the money had been
transferred back to the BNI account. "It was sent back yesterday
(Thursday)," he said.

While the investigating team is still conducting its probe,
Irawadi's resignation could send a message about who should be
blamed for the move.

"I have promised I won't comment myself before the
investigating team finishes," stated Oyong, who had earlier said
that the irregular transfer was "engineered" by Irawadi.

"I haven't even heard about that (Irawadi's resignation),"
said Oyong, who had earlier in the day accompanied Agum during a
meeting with officials from the Indonesian Weightlifting,
Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Association (PABBSI).

When asked about his prospects of being cleared from the case,
Oyong said: "I don't know. Hopefully, I'm cleared. It's in the
hands of the investigating team."

The investigating team, led by Cahyo Adi of KONI's legal
affairs commission, had questioned 16 officials including Irawadi
and Oyong. The team has been given a week to carry out its duty
and is supposed to announce the result on Monday.