Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Former chief economic minister Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti was questioned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) here on Tuesday over the issuance of a settlement letter (SKL) in the case of Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI).

"We questioned Dorodjatun as a minister from 2001 to 2004 in the case of SKL BLBI," KPK spokesman Johan Budi said.

Dorodjatun who left the KPK office at around 5.30pm declined to comment on his questioning. "It is secret," he said.

KPK questioned former chief economic minister in the 2000-2001 period, Rizal Ramli, and former finance minister for the period of 1998-1999, Bambang Subianto, on April 12 in connection with the case.

Former chief economic minister of the 1999-2000 period and head of the National Development Planning Board of the 2001-2004 period, Kwik Kian Gie, had also been questioned on April 2 over the case.

KPK set up four teams to settle the case which was formerly handled by the Attorney General`s Office.

One of the team handles cases that have been closed by the AGO due to the issuance of SKL including that of Sjamsul Nursalim, the former majority shareholder of former Bank Dagang Nasional Indonesia (BDNI), worth Rp28.4 trillion.

Based on the results of examination on the settlement of shareholders` obligations (PKPS) by the State Audit Board, the value of Salim`s assets handed over to the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (BPPN) for the settlement of its BLBI was only 36.7 percent or Rp19.38 trillion out of Rp52.72 trillion worth of BLBI that Salim had to settle.

The mechanism for the issuance of SKL by BPPN was based on Presidential Instruction Number 8 of 2002 under then President Megawati Soekarnoputri following inputs from finance minister Boediono, chief economic minister Dorodjatun and state enterprises minister Laksamana Soekardi.

Kwik said during questioning at the AGO that he had always rejected the SKL but had always been defeated in his argument.

He said he had rejected the plan because it was done under intervention of the IMF so that it would affect sales of assets like that for BCA in 2004.

He said BCA was one of the 108 assets that Salim handed to BPPN to pay its BLBI. BCA was sold at only Rp20 trillion because it was done under IMF pressure.

It was sold without a tender as the buyers had been appointed namely Farallon and Standard Charter who later sold the bank at a multiple price.

Out of Rp144.5 trillion worth of BLBI extended to 48 national banks following monetary crisis at the time Rp138.4 trillion was a loss for the state while only 16 people had been judicially processed.

Of the 16 people processed three were released, 13 sentenced but only one put in a prison, two others were not immediately taken into prison and nine others had fled abroad.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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