Police question Suta

JAKARTA: Police investigators questioned on Wednesday former Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) chairman I Putu Gede Ary Suta about his role in a high profile financial scandal.

National Police deputy spokesperson Brig. Gen. Soenarko Ardanto said on Wednesday that Suta was questioned for seven hours, during which police investigators asked 32 questions related to some documents and procedures on the use of the so- called Account No. 502.

The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) had alleged earlier that IBRA and Bank Indonesia (BI) had misused funds totaling Rp 20.9 trillion from the Account No. 502 at BI.

Police investigators had said earlier that former BI Governor Sjahril Sabirin, former IBRA chairmen Cacuk Sudarijanto and Suta had already been declared suspects, but police said on Wednesday that Suta was questioned as a witness.

Account 502 was created by the government to pay third party funds in banks closed at the height of the economic crisis in 1998, but BI and IBRA had allegedly used part of the funds to recapitalize banks under IBRA's custody. --JP