Paskah once tried to erase proof of BI`s illegal fund flow: Witness

Jakarta (ANTARA News, 08/06/08 21:43

Minister for National Development Planning/Chairman of National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) Paskah Suzetta once proposed a way to wipe out traces of Rp31.5 billion Bank Indonesia (BI) funds distributed illegally to members of the House of Representatives (DPR) in 2003, a witness told a Corruption Court session.

The testimony was made by former BI deputy director for money circulation Luki Fatul Aziz H in a Corruption Criminal Court session here on Wednesday.

Luki told the court that Paskah who was one of the leaders of Commission IX of the DPR in 2003 met with a number of BI executives in 2005 after an indication was learned that the State Audit Board (BPK) had found irregularities in the fund flow to the DPR.

"The meeting was held to find out a way how to solve the problem," Luki said.

In August 2005, Paskah together with Hamka Yandhu met with Rusli Simanjuntak who at the moment was BI Governor`s Bureau chief. Luki and Lukman Bunyamin attended the meeting which was held in Le Meredien hotel.



Luki said that at the meeting Paskah proposed that Burhanuddin Abdullah, who was BI governor at that time, meet BPK Chairman Anwar Nasution so that the BI fund flow problem would not escalate.

Paskah also stressed that the fund flow of BI to the DPR was fully the responsibility of BI because the funds were disbursed by the central bank.

A similar meeting was also held in December 2005.

Through Hamka Yandhu in a meeting in Dharmawangsa Hotel in 2006, Paskah proposed that BI should return the money to BI`s Foundation for Indonesian Bank Development (YPPI) from where the funds were distributed to the DPR.

When questioned by the Corruption Eradition Commission (KPK)`s investigators, Luki said that Paskah had confirmed receiving the BI fund but not in the same amount as it was promised by BI.

In the minutes of investigation (BAP), Luki was quoted as saying that Paskah happened to complain in the 2005 meeting. According to Luki, Paskah doubted if the amount of money he received was the same as the amount that BI had distributed.

It was said in the court that Paskah received Rp1 billion.

But Luki denied his testimony as written in the minutes (BAP). He told the judges that Paskah doubted if the amount the BI had distributed was the same as the amount the DPR had received, not the amount received by Paskah.(*)