Police deny BNI suspects have fled the country
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Police denied on Sunday allegations that some of those involved in a financial scandal involving state-owned Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) had fled the country.
"Who says they (the suspects) have fled the country? They are still here and we are continuing to investigate the case," Basyir told The Jakarta Post.
He also stressed that police were still questioning two detained suspects and were "seeking more information from other witnesses".
"So far we have detained two suspects and are still working the case. That's all I can say," Basyir said when asked to comment on news reports that some of those involved in the Rp 1.7 trillion (US$200 million) scam had escaped from the country.
The scandal revolves around the questionable issuance of 41 letters of credit totaling Rp 1.7 trillion by BNI Kebayoran Baru branch in South Jakarta.
Police investigators said over the weekend that they had detained two high-ranking BNI officers in October and barred six others, including two alleged end-users of the letters of credit, from traveling overseas.
The two detained were identified as Edy Santoso, BNI's head of foreign services, and Koesadiyuwono, BNI Kebayoran Baru branch manager.
Police are also questioning five witnesses identified only as Sy, Dk, Sw, Ew and Ah.
BNI President Director Syaifuddien Hassan was quoted as saying in Surakarta, Central Java over the weekend that some suspects had gone overseas, and blamed it on the disclosure of the case.
Syaifuddien did not reveal the source of his information or identify those who have already left the country.
Koran Tempo daily quoted Director General for Immigration Santoso as saying over the weekend that he had heard that some of those involved in the scandal had left the country.
"I heard some (of those involved in the scam) had left the country even before the temporary 14-day travel ban was imposed," Santoso was quoted as saying.
Before the case came to the surface last week, police had reportedly asked the immigration office on Oct. 8 to slap a temporary two-week travel ban on those suspected of playing a role or having knowledge about the scandal.
According to Syaifuddien, the scandal, which possibly caused trillions in state loses, took place due to a conspiracy involving insiders.
He said he had already dismissed several staff members at BNI Kebayoran Baru branch and other branches believed to be involved in the case.
Syaifuddien denied responsibility for the scam, saying that BNI's board of directors had never acknowledged the disbursements of export credit from several BNI branch offices in Kenya, Switzerland, and Cook Island to some local businessmen in Indonesia.