"We appeal to all sides to respect the ongoing legal process. Let`s see how it is. The KPK itself respects it. This is a legal domain," KPK spokesman Johan Budi said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has appealed to all sides, including President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, to respect the legal settlement of the alleged graft case related to the bailout of Bank Century.

"We appeal to all sides to respect the ongoing legal process. Lets see how it is. The KPK itself respects it. This is a legal domain," KPK spokesman Johan Budi said here on Tuesday.

Johan was responding to a statement by President Yudhoyono on the Bank Century bailout case.

He said all sides must leave the legal process to the court to examine the truth of evidence provided by the KPK.

"It is the court which has the authority to decide whether or not the evidence is strong or whether or not the case is wrong," he said.

For the first time ever, President Yudhoyono commented on the Bank Century bailout case, saying that it is being handled by the anti-corruption court but a policy cannot be tried.

He was quoted by Kompas daily on Tuesday as saying that none of state officials dare to make any policy if it can be tried.

This leading Indonesian newspaper also noted that it was the head of states first statement on the bailout of Bank Century (now Bank Mutiara) case after the anti-corruption court tried Budi Mulya, former Bank Indonesia deputy governor, as defendant last Thursday.

However, if the policies were wrongly implemented for the sake of vested interests, including personal interest of those in charge, they were subject to criminal law, he said.

President Yudhoyono further said he was in Peru when the decision to bailout the troubled Bank Century was made in November 2008. He was neither reported nor asked to give his opinion about the decision, he said as quoted by Kompas.

The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) said the bailout had caused Rp 689.3 billion in losses to the state while the determining of Bank Century as a failed bank with systemic impacts caused Rp6.76 trillion in losses to the state, bringing the total amount of state losses to Rp7.4 trillion. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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