Bank Century inquiry has no legal implication: Govt

The government insists that the House of Representatives’ inquiry into the Bank Century bailout has no legal implication on those some political parties said were held responsible for the policy.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto said Thursday the inquiry was a political process and therefore the parties’ findings of alleged violations committed by then Bank Indonesia governor Boediono, who is now the Vice President, and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati in the bailout policy were debatable.

“It must be understood that the dynamics at [the House in] Senayan were a political, not legal, process. Debates occurred out there could not be separated from the views of the political parties,” Djoko said at the presidential office.

He said the political parties had given an impression that the figures they named in their findings were already guilty, which he deemed was improper.

“The legislative body is a political institution, not a legal one. Finding someone guilty or not is beyond the House’s authority,” Djoko said.

He added, however, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had opted to refrain from immediately reacting to the findings. The President will respond to the inquiry results in a speech to be delivered in the near future.

Mulyani and Boediono authorized in November 2008 the bailout worth Rp 6.76 trillion (US$716 million), which was deemed controversial as it ten folded the original estimation.

Justice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar said the Golkar Party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, the Prosperous Justice Party and the People’s Conscience Party could face libel charges for naming Boediono, Mulyani and other officials in their conclusion statements read out in the inquiry committee hearing on Tuesday.

“We expect our friends to respect the law…revealing the names can be considered a libel. We regret this,” he said.