JAKARTA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's former Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on Thursday that the banking bailout of Bank Century worth 6.7 trillion rupiah (670 million U.S. dollars), taken on November 2008, was a wrong policy as the bank was robbed by its owner.

    Before the parliamentary Special Committee on Banking Bailout Case of Bank Century, Kalla reiterated the statement he made several months ago about the robbery. He also said that at that time he ordered police to arrest the bank's owner Robert Tantular.

    "When I was reported by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Boediono as the Governor of Bank Indonesia, the central bank, that time about the bailout, I was shocked as the bank collapsed and needed bailout," Kalla said.

    He added that the two officials had said that the bank was collapsed as the owner "played games" on it and it had defaulted commercial papers.

    "I asked them why they helped such a bank. Just arrest the owner. I said that it was a robbery by the owner," said Kalla.

    According to Kalla, he did not agree with the officials that if the bank was closed, it would trigger a systemic risk.

    "The bank was a small one. It would not trigger any systemic risk. In fact, the bank ruined the country," said Kalla.

    He said that he could not do anything as the bailout was already done.

    "I was angry but the damage has been done," said Kalla.

    Critics said that the bailout policy posed a loss for the country's finance.

    However, the Finance Minister Sri Mulyani said that the country did not lose the money as the bank still exists with its new name of Bank Mutiara.

Special Report:  Global Financial Crisis