BLBI Task Force Decree Issued, Mahfud MD: Name Of Criminal Investigation Unit Has Been Included, Criminal Issues To Be Handled Immediately

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD (Irfan Meidianto/VOI)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD confirmed that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had issued a Presidential Decree (Keppres) related to the Task Force for Handling State Collection Rights for Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance Funds (BLBI) on Wednesday, October 6.

"The new Presidential Decree, published yesterday Wednesday, used to be the Presidential Decree (published, red) in April," Mahfud said as quoted from the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs YouTube, Friday, October 8.

He explained that in this new Presidential Decree, the Police Chief of Criminal Investigation Unit was included in the executive ranks. So, if a criminal problem is found, it can be immediately addressed by the police.

"In this new Presidential Decree, the name Kabareskrim is included here because if there is a criminal problem, it will be handled immediately," said the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK).

"For example, if there is a criminal case, land that has been legally handed over to the state (from BLBI obligors and debtors, ed) is suddenly sold with fake documents and so on or in what way will it be criminalized. Agung, and so on," added Mahfud, who is the chairman of the BLBI Task Force Steering Committee.

In addition, the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) Sofyan Djalil also included in the steering committee in the same Presidential Decree. Sofyan's entry, said Mahfud, was intended to resolve the problem of the millions of hectares of land assets from BLBI obligors and debtors that were confiscated.

Furthermore, Mahfud advised those who have enjoyed banking assistance for a long time to work together to repay their debts to the state. He also ensured that the government would continue to collect and confiscate obligors and debtors who did not settle their debts.

"Because the state is in need to be returned to the people," said Mahfud.

Mahfud reminded that neither obligors nor debtors should play with the government. Moreover, he admitted that he wanted to pay, but then fled, the forest was not clear.

"I have said many times if you are just playing around, 'okay I want to pay' then he never appears again, later there will be further steps and I have been provided with these two Presidential Decrees with a predetermined deadline," he concluded.