IO, Jakarta – Sjamsul Nursalim, who is a controlling shareholder of Bank Dagang National Indonesia (BDNI) has been named as a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in relation to the case of Bank Indonesia Liquidity Support (BLBI) Certification of Settlement (SKL) issuances.
Sjamsul was named as a suspect after KPK leadership held a preliminary hearing concerning the development of the case of convicted former Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency Head (BPPN) Syafruddin Arsyad Temanggung. The preliminary hearing ended in the increase of Sjamsul Nursalim’s status to “under investigation”.
“Yes, already (a suspect),” said KPK Deputy Chairman Alexander Marwata when asked on Sjamsul’s status as a suspect by reporters in his office in Jalan Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta on Tuesday (28/5).
Alexander assured his listeners that there were no issues with legal mechanisms in the case. Currently, Sjamsul, a former DBNI obligor, lives in Singapore. The KPK Deputy Chairman stated that although Sjamsul was in Singapore, the judicial process could be carried out without his presence in the trial. “It can be done in absentia later,” he said.
According to Alexander, “in absentia” can be held by non-profit institutions towards Sjamsul in order to return state money, which in the SKL BLBI case for BDNI that involved Sjamsul, amounted to Rp 4.8 trillion. “Yes, (Sjamsul’s) assets are in Indonesia. They are now being tracked by the KPK Asset Tracking, Evidence Management, and Execution (Labuksi) team,” he said.
Previously, the KPK handled the BLBI case, with former BPPN Head Syafruddin Arsyad Temenggung. Syafruddin was sentenced to 13 years in prison, which was increased to 15 years after an appeal.
The panel of judges stated that Syafruddin was guilty of violating the law relating to the BLBI scandal and caused government losses of Rp 4.5 trillion while benefiting Sjamsul Nursalim with Rp 4.5 trillion. The panel of judges believed that Syafruddin worked together with Sjamsul and his wife, Itjih Nursalim and Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti. (eka)