Malang, East Java (ANTARA News) - A constitutional law expert from Brawijaya University, Dr. Ibnu Tricahyo, has stated that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) should not hesitate to follow up the Bank Century bailout case even though it involves the Vice President.

"If KPK has found evidence of corruption or misuse of funds after conducting inquiries and investigations, the Commission should not hesitate to commence legal proceedings even if the case implicates the Vice President," he said here on Monday.

"The law clearly states that every citizen has equal status before the law, which means the Commission has the right to interrogate the Vice President if that helps resolve the Century case," Tricahyo noted.

"I believe all of us have agreed to not delay the resolution of this case. Therefore, anyone who is involved in the misuse of government funds worth Rp6.7 trillion should be prosecuted," he stated.

However, Tricahyo added, if the anti-graft agency did not find any evidence of corruption during its investigation, it should publicly declare so 'in order to uphold the presumption of innocence'.

He stated that the KPK should be completely independent while handling the Century case.

"KPK must also carry out impartial checks. Moreover, whatever is being done by the Commission to resolve the Bank Century case has nothing to do with the dismissal of Vice President," Tricahyo pointed out.

He said the parliament's move to question Boediono over the Century case would not be effective.

"In fact, it will be some kind of a `political show` to boost the image of certain political parties," Tricahyo added.

Earlier, KPK Chairman Abraham Samad stated that Boediono was involved in the Bank Century bailout scandal because he was the Bank Indonesia governor at the time and had issued the FPJP (short-term loan facility) in 2008.

"Details about Boediono's involvement will emerge after the questioning of Budi Mulya and Siti Chalimah Fadjrijah, two recently named suspects in the case, who were deputy governors of the central bank at the time," he said.

However, Abraham added, the KPK 'cannot touch Boediono because his current status as vice president gives him immunity'.
(Y012/KR-BSR/O001)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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