KPK to question Robert Tantular today

Fri, 03/19/2010 10:51 AM | National

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will question former Bank Century owner Robert Tantutar on Friday in its investigation into possible fraud in the disbursement of the Rp 6.76 trillion (US$716 million) Bank Century bailout.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi, confirmed the plan and said that Robert would be examined as a witness.

Previously, the antigraft commission had planned to question Robert over the management of the bailout funds after they were disbursed by the Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS).

Bank Century, now Bank Mutiara, received Rp 6.76 trillion in bailout funds after the government decided to save the ailing bank, fearing a systemic threat to the country’s banking sector amid the global financial crisis.

However, many suspect the bailout funds may have been channeled to politicians for election campaign funds.

The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) recently found that several names of fund recipients may have been political figures.

Earlier this year, the Jakarta High Court increased the sentence against Robert from four to five years in prison, after it found him guilty of issuing a letter of credit worth US$178 million and unhealthy loans of Rp 362 billion ($38.5 million) and misusing funds worth $18 million.