12 more questioned in BI graft probe<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The police investigation into alleged acts of
\ncorruption committed by three former directors of Bank Indonesia
\n(BI) continued yesterday -- after a two-day break over New Year's
\nholiday -- with the questioning of experts and BI staff.<\/p>\n
The head of Jakarta Police Detectives, Col. Gories Mere, said
\nthat new information was collected during questioning sessions
\nwith 12 people.<\/p>\n
"The first six are staff and executives from the central bank
\nand the rest are experts in economics and law."<\/p>\n
Gories declined to identify the interviewees, and sources in
\nthe detectives department remained tight-lipped.<\/p>\n
Reporters were even prohibited from getting a closer look at
\nthe detectives' rooms on the first floor of the main building at
\nJakarta Police Headquarters.<\/p>\n
The department had earlier interrogated the three former BI
\ndirectors -- Hendrobudiyanto, former director of private foreign
\nexchange supervision; Paul Soetopo Tjokronegoro, former director
\nof market operations; and Heru Soepraptomo, former director of
\nlegal affairs.<\/p>\n
The head of economic affairs for National Police Detectives
\nCorps, Col. Made Mangku Pastika, said earlier this week that the
\nthree suspects were being investigated for their alleged
\ninvolvement in improper loans granted to five troubled private
\nbanks: Bank Arta Prima, Bank Perniagaan, Bank Asta, Bank Citra
\nand Bank Dwipa, all located in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Thirty-five people, mostly former executives of the banks and
\nformer BI staff and executives, have been named suspects, Made
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
"Those people were involved in swindling a total of Rp 1.95
\ntrillion (US$390 million) in the form of loans and issuing --
\namong others -- commercial papers and deposits."<\/p>\n
The three former BI directors were also questioned yesterday
\nfor the fourth time.<\/p>\n
But the results of the questioning were not available.<\/p>\n
"Since I am still on leave, I can't exactly say when and how
\nlong the sessions were held," Amir Syamsuddin, the lawyer of the
\nthree, told The Jakarta Post last night.<\/p>\n
Amir even said that he had no idea about the police
\nallegations regarding his clients' involvement in improper loans
\nallegedly granted to the five ailing banks.<\/p>\n
The three suspects, together with the former director for
\nsupervision of private non-foreign exchange banks, Mansjurdin
\nNurdin, were honorably discharged under a presidential decree
\ndated Dec. 20.<\/p>\n
Reports earlier said Mansjurdin was also on the police list to
\nbe questioned for his alleged role in the crimes.<\/p>\n
But a police source, who asked for anonymity, said early this
\nweek that the Jakarta Police have never summoned Mansjurdin.<\/p>\n
Like many top bankers in this country, Mansjurdin could not be
\nreached for comment. Some say that he is in Australia on a trip.
\n(cst)<\/p>",
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