KPK STUDYING BANK CENTURY BAILOUT CASE

Jakarta, March 5 (ANTARA) - Acting Chief of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Tumpak Hatorangan Pangabean said his commission was still continuing its examinations over alleged corruption crimes in the Bank Century bailout case.

But the KPK leader could not yet ascertain when the examination status of the alleged corruption crimes in the bailout case could be raised to the investigation status.

"It will all depend on evidence. We have to abide by the principle of legal proof in the criminal process. Of course in this case we have to collect enough pieces of evidence," he said here on Friday.

He said that his commission was continuing to seek for evidence in this case.

In response to a question about President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's statement that a mistake in taking a policy could not be taken to criminal court, Tumpak said the results of the examinations could not yet be made public.

"We cannot yet make any statement on this matter because it concerns examinations of crimes. If we have found proofs we would announce it later," he said.

KPK Deputy Bibit Samad Riyanto said meanwhile that it would also depend on the law enforcing agency which handles it. "But it is being handled by the KPK, isn't?" he said.

The House of Representatives in its plenary on Wednesday decided that there were alleged violations in the extension of a bailout amounting to Rp6.7 trillion for ailing Bank Century in late 2008.

But the president on Thursday night said a policy which was issued with a good intention could not be taken to court or prosecuted.

"If in the implementation of the policy there are mistakes and deviations such as those found by the House Century Inquiry Committee, it should be ascertained the persons who are responsible for the mistakes and deviations," the president said.

The president also reminded that it should be differentiated between administrative mistakes and legal violations, and the sanctions that would be taken should respect the principle of justice.