Bapindo official tried for role in Rp 1.3t scam<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Maman Suparman, formerly deputy manager of
\nBapindo's branches in Jakarta, was arraigned yesterday at the
\nSouth Jakarta District Court on charges of corruption.<\/p>\n
Government prosecutors told the court that Maman helped
\nbusinessman Eddy Tansil cash large credits from Bank Pembangunan
\nIndonesia in violation of standard banking practices.<\/p>\n
Maman was directly involved in the disbursement of some US$174
\nmillion, or Rp 348 billion, worth of loans from the government
\nbank between December 1989 and May 1992, according to the
\nprosecution.<\/p>\n
Maman was accused of accepting bribes totaling Rp 256 million
\n($119,460) from Tansil for his services.<\/p>\n
His actions \"were harmful to state finances and the economy,\"
\nMohammad Yamin, who is leading the prosecution team, said.<\/p>\n
The prosecutor charged Maman under the 1971 anti-corruption
\nlaw, violation of which carries a maximum penalty of life
\nimprisonment.<\/p>\n
Maman, who turned 48 on Sunday, is the second person to be
\nbrought before the court in connection with the Rp 1.3 trillion
\n($620 million) scandal at Bapindo.<\/p>\n
Tansil, owner of the Golden Key Group and the main suspect in
\nthe scandal, is being tried at the Central Jakarta District Court
\nwhile four former Bapindo directors are currently under
\ninvestigation.<\/p>\n
The diminutive Maman, who turned up in a white long-sleeve
\nshirt and black pants, remained impassive during the two-and-a-
\nhalf hour hearing although his face looked pale.<\/p>\n
In marked contrast to Tansil's trial, the spectators at
\nyesterday's hearing were calm. There were no abusive or hostile
\nshouts that have colored Tansil's hearings.<\/p>\n
Police, however, were taking no chances, deploying as many as
\n300 officers to guard almost every corner of the court building.<\/p>\n
The tiny court room, which could only seat 50 spectators, was
\nfilled and most people, including hordes of journalists, were
\nforced to follow the trial through a speaker installed outside
\nthe room.<\/p>\n
According to the prosecution, Maman signed several letters of
\ncredit between 1989 and 1992 for the benefit of companies under
\nthe Golden Key Group. They were co-signed by J. Sukardi, head of
\nthe division of foreign service of the Jakarta branch.<\/p>\n
The credits were issued to finance the purchase of machinery
\nand equipment, but Maman never insisted on seeing the sales
\ncontracts when he signed the letters of credit nor did he ask the
\nbank's credit analysts to produce a report as is normally
\nrequired of such loans.<\/p>\n
Maman, according to the prosecution, also converted many of
\nthese usance letters of credit into red clause ones without the
\nwritten approval of his superiors.<\/p>\n
These conversions, and the change of the name of beneficiaries
\nfrom South Korean and Chinese suppliers to a Hong Kong-based firm
\nowned by Tansil, allowed the businessmen to cash in on the loans.<\/p>\n
Rp 500,000 each<\/p>\n
The prosecution also reached back to 1984 when Maman served at
\nBapindo's branches in Bandung, Surabaya and Jakarta and found
\nthat he had taken Rp 500,000 for each credit he helped approve.<\/p>\n
Excluding the bribe he allegedly took from Tansil, Maman
\nreceived a total of Rp 306 million ($143,000) from his clients,
\nthe prosecutors said.<\/p>\n
The Attorney General's office has already confiscated a luxury
\nhouse in the exclusive Pulo Mas area of East Jakarta owned by
\nMaman, worth an estimated Rp 200 million, and frozen many of his
\nbank accounts.<\/p>\n
The hearing was adjourned until Thursday when Maman's lawyers
\nwill present their defense.<\/p>\n
Maman's trial, which is being presided over by the Chief of
\nthe South Jakarta District Court Soedjatman, will include the
\ntestimony of at least 29 witnesses, according to court sources.<\/p>\n
Denny Kailimang, one of Indonesia's top criminal and corporate
\nlawyers, who has been retained by Maman, yesterday urged the
\njudge to place his client under house arrest so that he could
\nbetter prepare his defense.<\/p>\n
Denny said there was no reason to keep Maman under arrest and
\npointed out that his client had already lost five kilograms since
\nhe was detained on Feb. 16. (05)<\/p>",
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