Fight white collar crimes: Soeharto<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto has ordered government
\nprosecutors to go after white collar criminals because they are
\ncreating huge losses for taxpayers and the government.<\/p>\n
"In recent years, in the wake of economic development, we have
\nbeen seeing an increase in the number of economic crimes and
\nviolations committed using more and more sophisticated methods,"
\nSoeharto said in keynote address launching the working conference
\nof the Attorney General's office.<\/p>\n
"These crimes require serious attention from the state
\napparatus and law enforcement agencies," he said.<\/p>\n
"The majority of economic violations and crimes occur in the
\nfields of finance, banking and taxation, causing not a small
\ndrain on development funds which we have painstakingly
\ncollected."<\/p>\n
The president said that this activity would have to stop
\nbecause it could seriously undermine the current government
\neffort to make Indonesia financially independent from foreign
\nassistance in developing the nation.<\/p>\n
The public has given their full support of this endeavor, as
\nshown by their increasing awareness in paying their taxes, he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
"Economic violations and crimes are not only hampering
\ndevelopment efforts, they also undermine the people's confidence
\non these efforts. The public attorneys must pay special attention
\nto this issue."<\/p>\n
His appeal to give priority to white collar criminals came
\nbarely a month after three businessmen in Surabaya, East Java,
\nwere acquitted of tax evasion charges.<\/p>\n
Soeharto, who rarely commented on court verdicts, expressed
\nhis concern about the impact the acquittal would have on the
\ngovernment's drive to prosecute tax evaders.<\/p>\n
A number of judges and public attorneys are now under
\ninvestigation after allegations that they received bribes from
\nthe defendants. However, law experts have said that the
\nprosecutors do not have a strong enough case to obtain guilty
\nverdicts.<\/p>\n
Now, the Attorney General's office is under pressure to obtain
\nguilty verdicts against people involved in the Rp 1.3 trillion
\n($620 million) scandal at the government-owned Bank Pembangunan
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
The chief suspect is Eddy Tansil, owner of the Golden Key
\nGroup, who reportedly obtained loans and cashed in on them in
\nviolation of normal banking practices. The investigators believe
\nhe had insiders' help.<\/p>\n
Professionalism<\/p>\n
In his speech, Soeharto urged public attorneys to sharpen
\ntheir professional skills. "The ability to present evidence of
\nthe crime committed is a decisive factor when the judge makes a
\ndecision."<\/p>\n
Singgih, in his speech to the meeting attended by about 300
\nsenior public attorneys, also stressed on the need to improve
\ntheir professionalism so that the public can see that the law is
\nmaintained and justice is upheld.<\/p>\n
Later, he briefed reporters about the progress in the Bapindo
\ninvestigation which his office is now conducting, stressing that
\nonly six suspects -- Tansil and five Bapindo executives -- have
\nbeen admitted so far.<\/p>\n
He confirmed that the investigators are questioning Sudomo,
\nthe chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council, but only in his
\ncapacity as a witness.<\/p>\n
Sudomo has admitted writing a letter of reference in support
\nof Tansil's application for the loans from Bapindo. However, he
\ndenied any wrongdoing, stressing that the bank's executives had
\nthe last word in deciding whether or not to extend the credits
\nbased on the applicant's creditworthiness. (02)<\/p>\n
Law -- Page 2<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fight-white-collar-crimes-soeharto-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }