Jakarta – Legislators' support for Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) legislator Misbakhun, who is being held by National Police on suspicion of forgery related to a Bank Century loan, has attracted controversy.
Thirty-three legislators from various parties have called for Misbakhun's release, saying they would vouch for him.
Transparency International Indonesia's Todung Mulya Lubis said Tuesday that the legislators' interference showed strong indications of political intervention in the investigative process. "It is hard to deny the politicization of this investigation," he told The Jakarta Post.
He said the police were highly influenced by the House of Representatives because it had the authority to approve or reject the police annual budget plan proposal. "The House has a strong bargaining position with the police," he said.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Edward Aritonang denied any pressure in relation to the investigation. He said that Misbakhun was alleged to have forged documents, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of eight years in prison.
Edward said that Misbakhun signed a letter of credit for a US$22.5 million loan for his company, PT Selalang Prima Internasional, to purchase equipment from an importer.
The company submitted a letter of deposit worth US$4.5 million – 20 percent of the loan's value – to Bank Century as collateral on Nov. 22, 2007. The investigation found that the actual deposit was not made until Nov. 27, meaning the deposit guarantee in the application was fictitious.
He said the investigation also found that the transaction between Selalang and the importer was fictitious. "The supposed transaction document was actually a photocopy of another company's paperwork for a previous purchase of the same equipment from the same importer," he said.
Transparency International Indonesia secretary-general Teten Masduki said the legislators were being inconsistent in their handling of the various aspects of the Bank Century debacle.
"They pressed the Corruption Eradication Commission [KPK] to investigate [Finance Minister] Sri Mulyani Indrawati and [Vice President] Boediono, yet they leap to the defense of Misbakhun," he said.
Reform Institute political expert Yudi Latif said the case was a prime example of the collision of legal and political interests.
"The ruling [Democratic Party] has an interest in intimidating those who vocally support corruption eradication efforts. On the other hand, there are legal questions about Misbakhun's loan," he said, adding that it was unethical for legislators to support a corruption suspect but that the "irregularity" of the rapid arrest of the suspect at such an early stage of the investigation justified the support.
"They are questioning why the arrest was made so soon while the key players who abused their power in the Bank Century bailout have not been investigated," he said.