The Indonesian Supreme Court has acquitted former lawmaker Muhammad Misbakhun of letter of credit (L/C) forgery charges.

The charges are linked to the controversial US$716.56 million bailout in 2008 of Bank Century by the Indonesian government.

Court ruling

The Supreme Court previously upheld a Jakarta High Court ruling, which sentenced the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician to two years in prison for forging an L/C to appear as if it was from the now defunct Bank Century.

The L/C documents were supposed to have provided collateral so that his company, PT Selalang Prima International, became eligible for a US$22.5 million loan.

Case history

Misbakhun was imprisoned in 2010 and subsequently dismissed from his position as a member of the House of Representatives. He was granted parole in April 2011.

Along with his PKS party colleagues, he has consistently argued that charges against him were trumped up because he was amongst opposition lawmakers who vocally pushed for a thorough investigation into the controversial bailout.

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