Mapindo performed aerial mapping upon request: Hasan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Timber tycoon Mohammad 'Bob' Hasan, the
\ndefendant in an allegedly fraudulent aerial mapping project
\nbetween 1989 and 1999, revealed on Wednesday that he took over
\nthe project upon request of the company originally named for the
\njob.<\/p>\n
Hasan told the Central Jakarta District Court that the
\nIndonesian Forest Concessionaires Association (APHI) awarded the
\n$87 million project to PT Adikarto Pripindo in 1988 based on
\njudgment by APHI's top executives and the government.<\/p>\n
But within a short time, the firm encountered financial
\nproblems that forced it to halt the project, said Hasan, who
\nchaired APHI until he was appointed the minister of trade and
\nindustry by his golfing buddy then president Soeharto in 1997.<\/p>\n
\"They asked me to help inject some funds to continue the
\nproject in exchange for 50 percent of their shares,\" Hasan said.<\/p>\n
Adikarto was jointly owned by businessman Bambang Yoga
\nSoegama, APHI's executive chairman Tjipto Asmaning and
\nbusinessman Widodo.<\/p>\n
The defendant said he later acquired all the shares and
\nchanged the company's name into PT Mapindo Parama.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors in the trial have found that Hasan violated the
\ncontract, and that the procedures and the results of the mapping
\nwere not in accordance with the requirements of the contract.<\/p>\n
The scam caused an estimated $168 million in losses to APHI,
\nprosecutors said.<\/p>\n
Hasan said the project followed an agreement reached between
\nAPHI and the government, which obliged every company holding a
\nforest concession (HPH) to own its aerial maps and airborne
\nphotos.<\/p>\n
Many companies, however, could not afford to comply with the
\nruling, Hasan said. In August 1988 some 500 APHI members agreed
\nthat APHI coordinate the scheme.<\/p>\n
Hasan claimed to have never heard complaints addressed to
\nMapindo concerning the aerial mapping and airborne radar imaging
\nresults.<\/p>\n
The defendant admitted to know nothing about funds collected
\nby APHI from forest concession holders for the project, saying he
\nhad handed over the matter to the APHI board of executives. He
\nsaid he had no knowledge of why APHI did not convert its letter
\nof agreement on the project with Adikarto after Mapindo took
\nover.<\/p>\n
Replying to a question raised by presiding judge Soebardi,
\nHasan said he signed approval of transfer of money from APHI for
\nairborne radar imaging payment to Mapindo Parama thorough Bank
\nUmum Nasional and Bank Dagang Negara in his capacity as APHI
\nchairman. Hasan, however, said he forgot the amount of money.<\/p>\n
The trial was adjourned until Thursday to hear more testimony
\nfrom the defendant. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mapindo-performed-aerial-mapping-upon-request-hasan-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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