Hokiarto tried again for graft<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The trial of businessman Hokiarto for an alleged land scam that
\ncaused the state to suffer Rp 48.7 billion (US$5.6 million) in
\nlosses began at the South Jakarta District Court on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The same court had earlier freed the 69-year-old businessman
\nin September 2002 from a similar charge involving state losses of
\nRp 95.4 billion, due to ambiguities in the indictment. It also
\nearlier ruled the case should have been brought before the North
\nJakarta District Court where the crime took place.<\/p>\n
Claiming they had come up with a stronger case against the
\nbusinessman, prosecutors once again filed a case against
\nHokiarto.<\/p>\n
In the indictment, prosecutor Syaifudin Kasim said that
\nHokiarto applied for a loan from state-owned Bukopin Bank in
\norder to buy a plot of land in Marunda, North Jakarta, for PT
\nGoro Batara Sakti (PT GBS), which was owned by former president
\nSoeharto youngest son Hutomo \"Tommy\" Mandala Putra and his car
\nracing buddy Ricardo Gelael.<\/p>\n
With the involvement of former chief of State Logistics Agency
\n(Bulog) Beddu Amang, Bukopin approved the loan, which, unusually,
\nwas guaranteed by Bulog's Rp 23 billion account and disbursed Rp
\n20 billion to PT GBS which was later given to Hokiarto.<\/p>\n
On July 19, 1996, Hokiarto and PT GBS signed a working
\ncontract. Hokiarto was required to acquire 60 hectares of land
\nfor PT GBS using the Rp 20 billion fund from the bank.<\/p>\n
PT GBS then gave Rp 15.6 billion and Rp 625 million of the
\nmoney to the defendant, who later placed all the funds into a
\npersonal account.<\/p>\n
Hokiarto then spent only Rp 1.1 billion to purchase 83,000-
\nsquare-meters of land.<\/p>\n
On several occasions later in the year, Hokiarto requested
\nadditional funds totaling Rp 32.25 billion from Beddu, who agreed
\nthe request.<\/p>\n
\"However, the defendant did not spend the money for the agreed
\npurpose. He only acquired several hectares and spent the money
\nfor his personal use,\" Syaifudin said.<\/p>\n
The defendant is being charged under Law No. 3\/1971 on
\ncorruption, which carries a maximum penalty of life in jail.<\/p>\n
Speaking after the hearing, defense lawyer Hotman Paris
\nHutapea said the trial against his client would be futile as
\nthere was nothing new in the indictment.<\/p>\n
\"The last trial was suspended because the indictment was
\nflawed. Without anything new, this court has no authority at all
\nto hear this case,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In 1999, Tommy and Ricardo were acquitted by the same court of
\nall charges for their involvement in the land scam. However, the
\nSupreme Court later overturned the verdict and sentenced them to
\n18 months in jail.<\/p>\n
Tommy, who fled after the verdict, is currently serving his
\n15-year jail term at the Batu Penitentiary in Nusakambangan
\nisland, Central Java, for masterminding the killing of a Supreme
\nCourt Justice.<\/p>\n
Beddu was sentenced to two years in jail in 2001 for graft. He
\nappealed but the Supreme Court handed him down a four-year jail
\nterm in January 2003.<\/p>\n
Presiding judge Machmud Rohimi adjourned the trial until March
\n31.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hokiarto-tried-again-for-graft-1447893297",
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