KPK INVESTIGATING BANK CENTURY CASE FOR ALLEGED CORRUPTION

Jakarta, Feb 4 (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will investigate the Bank Century case only in light of indications of alleged corruption, bribery and extortion of state officials, KPK Deputy Chairman Chandra M Hamzah said.

Speaking at a meeting with the House committee investigating the case here on Thursday, Hamzah said right now KPK was still conducting the investigation and collecting information from witnesses.

"The investigation is based on the results of the audit by the Supreme Audit Board (BPK) on the bank," he said.

He said the BPK audit had focused it audits on two periods, namely the one before the extension of the Short-term Funding Facility (FPJP) to the bank by Bank Indonesia (the central bank) and that after the extension of the FPJP funds.

He said KPK had always grouped the nine findings of the BPK into the two periods, namely that before and after the extension of the FPJP funds.

He said KPK did this because based on Law Number 30 of 2002 on KPK, KPK was only authorized to investigate alleged cases of corruption involving state officials.

"This is the basis of all KPK operations," he said.

Therefore, he said, KPK was investigating the Bank Century case in relation with the extension of the FPJP while no state funds were involved before that.

However, he said, in case bribery or extortion of state officials had occurred, the KPK would step in even if Bank Century had not received FPJP funds.

The House Bank Century Inquiry Committee's deputy chairman, Mahfud Sidiq, meanwhile said that the consultation meeting between the KPK and the committee was for an exchange of information and inputs as they were both investigating the case.

"There are witnesses whom the committee has not questioned but have already been grilled by the KPK," he said.

He said the meeting was also aimed at accelerating the settlement of the case.***1***