Bob Hasan reelected as PASI chairman<\/p>\n
Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Timber tycoon and corruption convict Mohammad "Bob" Hasan, who
\nlast week was released from a maximum security prison, was
\nreelected for the seventh straight time since 1982 as chairman of
\nthe Indonesian Athletics Association (PASI) on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
He was released on parole last Friday after serving two-thirds
\nof his six-year prison sentence for misusing US$75 million in
\nfunds belonging to the ministry of forestry.<\/p>\n
The 73-year-old former Minister of Industry during the
\nSoeharto era promised to continue to develop local track and
\nfield.<\/p>\n
He said that he would start by scouting for local talent in
\nevery province and provide dozens with scholarships.<\/p>\n
"We need new blood in our programs," he announced after the
\nassociation's congress.<\/p>\n
Speaking more specifically about his programs, Bob said that
\nPASI would search for 10 promising male and female athletes from
\neach of the 32 provinces across the country.<\/p>\n
A yearly subsidy of Rp 6 million ($705) would be provided for
\neach of them, mostly for improved nutrition.<\/p>\n
Bob said that PASI had already gotten a commitment from giant
\nstate-owned Bank Mandiri, which would give financial assistance
\nto the athletes, and he promised that other partners would follow
\nin the near future.<\/p>\n
"We will look for young talent with a minimum height of 170
\ncentimeters. (5 foot 8 inches) We should certainly be able to
\ncompete with other sports such as basketball, volleyball and
\ntennis (for tall athletes)," he said, adding that PASI would
\norganize more track meets, particularly for high school students.<\/p>\n
He said that his other focus would be to find more talent in
\nthe sprints.<\/p>\n
According to Hasan, a good sprinter could also become a good
\ncontender in other events like the jumps, hurdles and pole vault.<\/p>\n
"(Men's) world champions in the pole vault and long jump can
\noften run as fast as a 10.1 seconds for the 100-meter dash," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Hasan, a former chairman of the Indonesian Forest
\nConcessionaires Association, was sentenced to two years in prison
\nby the Central Jakarta District Court after he was found guilty
\nof misusing government funds. He was also ordered to pay a Rp 15
\nmillion fine and return Rp 14.1 billion to the state.<\/p>\n
He appealed the verdict with the Jakarta High Court, and as a
\nresult was sentenced to six years in prison and had to pay
\ncompensation of some US$243.7 million. The sentence was upheld by
\nthe Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
In March 2001, the late Baharuddin Lopa, who at the time was
\nformer minister of justice and human rights, sent him to
\nNusakambangan penitentiary in Central Java "to deter other
\ncorruptors".<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bob-hasan-reelected-as-pasi-chairman-1447893297",
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