Menguak Skandal Mega Korupsi Perbankan Paling Heboh di Indonesia! Siapa Dalang Kasus Bank Century?

Summary

The Bank Century scandal in Indonesia is a complex tale of financial instability, political involvement, and corruption. Originally founded as Bank CIC, Century faced severe financial issues by the 2000s, culminating in a government bailout in 2008 to prevent systemic risk to the country's banking system. The bailout of 6.76 trillion Rupiah sparked controversy, with key political figures like Boediono, Sri Mulyani, and Jusuf Kalla involved in defending the decision. The scandal uncovered ties between Century and influential figures, leading to corruption charges against its founder Robert Tantular and others. Despite investigations, the full scope of the scandal remains murky.

Takeaways

• 😀 Bank Century, originally known as Bank CIC, was founded in 1989 by Robert Tantular and faced multiple financial crises before it became a major banking scandal.
• 😀 In 2008, Bank Century faced liquidity issues, with major clients withdrawing their funds, causing the bank to seek emergency funds from Bank Indonesia (BI).
• 😀 The Indonesian government intervened with a bailout to prevent a systemic banking crisis, fearing a collapse of Century could have domino effects on the national economy.
• 😀 The bailout involved the injection of over 6.7 trillion Rupiah, which raised questions about the transparency and necessity of the intervention.
• 😀 Key figures in the bailout controversy include Boediono (BI Governor), Sri Mulyani (Finance Minister), and Vice President Jusuf Kalla, with differing accounts of their involvement.
• 😀 Robert Tantular, the founder of Bank Century, was convicted for embezzling funds and committing fraudulent activities that contributed to the bank's failure.
• 😀 The involvement of police officials like Komjen Susno Duadji in facilitating fund withdrawals raised suspicions of corruption and led to disciplinary actions within the police force.
• 😀 The bailout of Bank Century resulted in the creation of a special investigative committee (Pansus Century) to scrutinize the case, with members of parliament questioning the legality and fairness of the bailout process.
• 😀 The bank was later sold to J Trust Group of Japan in 2014, after being rebranded as Bank Mutiara, at a price significantly lower than the bailout amount.
• 😀 Despite extensive investigations and legal proceedings, the full extent of the political and financial networks behind the scandal remains unclear, leading to widespread public distrust in the handling of the case.

Q & A

What is the Bank Century scandal about?

The Bank Century scandal revolves around the bank's failure, its bailout by the Indonesian government, and the subsequent corruption investigations. The bank was declared 'systemically important,' and the government injected large amounts of funds to prevent its collapse, which sparked a significant scandal and widespread investigation into the involvement of high-ranking officials.

Why was Bank Century declared a 'systemically important' bank?

Bank Century was deemed 'systemically important' due to the potential domino effect its collapse could have on the Indonesian banking system and national economy. The bank’s failure could have led to a massive financial crisis, impacting other banks and the economy as a whole.

What role did the government play in saving Bank Century?

The Indonesian government provided a bailout to Bank Century through the Lembaga Penjamin Simpanan (LPS) to prevent its failure. This was done to avoid a broader financial crisis, as the bank's collapse could lead to a rush of withdrawals from other banks, destabilizing the entire banking system.

Who were some of the key figures involved in the scandal?

Key figures involved include Robert Tantular, the founder and owner of Bank Century, Sri Mulyani, the Finance Minister at the time, Boediono, the Governor of Bank Indonesia, and Susno Duadji, the former Kabareskrim. These individuals were linked to the bank’s bailout and subsequent corruption investigations.

What were the legal consequences for Robert Tantular?

Robert Tantular was found guilty of fraud and mismanaging Bank Century. He was sentenced to prison after being proven to have secretly invested in high-risk, worthless securities, leading to the bank's collapse.

What controversy surrounds the role of Boediono in the scandal?

Boediono, as the Governor of Bank Indonesia, defended the decision to rescue Bank Century, arguing it was necessary to prevent a systemic collapse. However, his involvement has been controversial due to allegations of improper decisions and a potential conflict of interest in the bailout process.

How did Sri Mulyani defend the government's actions regarding Bank Century?

Sri Mulyani, the Finance Minister, justified the bailout by emphasizing the need to avoid systemic risk to the banking sector. She maintained that saving Bank Century was the best option to prevent a larger economic collapse, although this decision has been questioned by many.

What was the significance of the 'Bailout' or 'Bella out' funds?

The 'Bailout' funds, amounting to over 6.7 trillion Rupiah, were critical in keeping Bank Century afloat. The government injected this money to prevent the bank’s collapse, which could have triggered widespread panic and a financial crisis across Indonesia’s banking system.

Why did the case of Bank Century continue to be under investigation for years?

The investigation into Bank Century continued for years due to the complex nature of the case, with multiple layers of corruption, political interference, and involvement of high-ranking officials. The case also raised questions about political influence and whether certain individuals were above accountability.

What was the role of Susno Duadji in the scandal?

Susno Duadji, the former Kabareskrim, was implicated in helping facilitate the withdrawal of funds from Bank Century for certain individuals, including Budi Sampoerna. He allegedly received bribes in exchange for his actions, which led to his dismissal and legal consequences.