BI ALLEGEDLY SPENT RP5 BILLION TO BRIBE AGO OFFICIALS

Jakarta, Oct. 7 (ANTARA) - Bank Indonesia (BI), the central bank, paid at least Rp5 billion to certain officials at the Attorney General's Office (AGO) in an attempt to save former BI Governor Sudradjad Djiwandono from being arrested, according to Antony Zeidra Abidin, a suspect in a BI graft case.

Antony made the statement when given a chance by the jury at the Corruption Criminal Court to give his response to statements made by a witness earlier, here on Tuesday.

A number of former BI officials were allegedly involved in the BI Liquidity Support(BLBI) funds embezzlement case handled by the AGO.

Among the former BI officials were former BI governor Sudradjad
Djiwandono, former BI deputy governor Iwan R. Prawiranata, and three former BI directors, namely Heru Supraptomo, Paul Sutopo, dan Hendro Budianto.

In his statement, Antony, a former member of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission IX, said he had received the information about the bribery from former BI Deputy Director Oey Hoy Tiong. Antony, a former Golkar lawmaker, had recorded his conversation with Oey.

"The money is just to save (Sudradjad Djiwandono) from being arrested," Antony said quoting Oey.

Oey had explained that BI had allocated funds to assist former BI officials facing legal cases, Antony said.

At the initial stage, BI spent Rp5 billion each to help Sudradjad Djiwandono and Iwan Ri Prawiranata respectively, he said.

Oey had also said that the arrest warrant had in fact been signed, according to Antony.

"The letter was torn up," Antony said quoting Oey's statement about the next action after the payment was made.

Responding to Antony's statement, Oey, as a witness, admitted that he indeed had a conversation with Antony.

However, Oey said, he did not know exactly who had handed over the money and who had received it.

Antony said that the money had been handed over to a certain official at the AGO.