Jakarta – The National Police accused on Monday a legislator who called for an investigation into 2008's Bank Century bailout of falsifying a Bank Century letter of credit worth US$22.5 million.
The lawyer of Muhammad Misbakhun, a politician from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), told the media after a questioning session that his client's company, PT Selalang Prima Internasional, had not falsified the letter of credit that had been sought for an export-import business linked to Saudi Arabia in 2008 as charged.
The lawyer said the credit had been restructured and approved by Bank Mutiara on Nov. 27, 2009.
"There is nothing wrong with the documents," the lawyer, Luhut Simanjuntak, said, adding that Misbakhun had bought copies of all documents he had used to apply for the credit and the approved rescheduling of the repayment.
PT Selalang is one of 10 companies that received a total of $177 million in credit through the submission of allegedly fake documents. The police mean to prove that PT Selalang falsified documents while offering collateral worth $4.5 million in assets belonging to other companies.
When confronted with the allegation, Luhut said, "Ask Bank Mutiara why they were willing to restructure the credit."
Aside from Misbakhun, the National Police have named five others suspects, including Bank Century (now Bank Permata) part owner Robert Tantular; Bank Century Senayan branch manager Linda Wangsa Dinata; former Bank Century president director Hermanus Hasan Muslim; Bank Century treasurer Krishna Jagateesen; and PT Selalang president director Franky Ongkowarjojo.
Yesterday's questioning was Misbakhun's first as a suspect. Last week, he was questioned as a witness in the case of another suspect, Robert Tantular.
Misbakbun is one of nine legislators from various political parties who initiated a legislative inquiry into the Bank Century bailout, which they claimed was unlawful and needless.
After weeks of investigation, the House of Representatives concluded that the Rp 6.76 trillion ($716 million) bailout had been unjustified.
Last week, Misbakhun came to the National Police Headquarters accompanied by two legislators, Lily Wahid and Akbar Faisal – both of whom also initiated the inquiry.