Official says loan repaid, claims slander<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Jakarta Sanitation Agency head Selamat Limbong admitted that he
\nhad borrowed money from city councillor Posman Siahaan in 2002.<\/p>\n
\"Yes, I borrowed some money from him when I was still working
\nas head of the city-owned Lokasari entertainment area in West
\nJakarta in April 2002. I borrowed Rp 250 million (US$29,762) to
\nsupport my friend's business,\" he said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Limbong said he had paid the money back four months later.<\/p>\n
\"After returning the money I was able to recover the building
\ncertificates for two houses, which I had used as collateral.\"<\/p>\n
Limbong was responding to statements made by Petrus Bala
\nPattyona, Posman's lawyer, who had said on Wednesday that the
\nagency head and his wife Herlintje Sagala had an unsettled debt
\namounting to Rp 1 billion to Posman. The money had been used \"to
\nsecure the position of agency head\".<\/p>\n
According to Petrus, Limbong had recovered the building
\ncertificates but had yet to pay his debt.<\/p>\n
If proven guilty, Limbong and his wife could face a maximum
\nsentence of four years imprisonment according to Criminal Code
\nArticles 372 and 378 on fraud and embezzlement.<\/p>\n
Due to the statements, Limbong planned to report Posman to the
\npolice for alleged defamation.<\/p>\n
\"My name and my family's names have been defamed by the
\nreport, which is untrue. I will file a report with the police
\nsoon,\" he said, adding that his lawyer Purbadi would handle the
\nmatter.<\/p>\n
Posman refused to comment on the case, saying \"Please, ask my
\nlawyer about that\".<\/p>\n
Limbong said he had reported the case to Governor Sutiyoso,
\nDeputy Governor Fauzi Bowo and City Secretary Ritola Tasmaya.<\/p>\n
However, he refused to divulge the responses of his superiors.<\/p>\n
Ritola had said on Wednesday that there would be sanctions
\nimposed on civil servants involved in criminal cases, but did not
\nprovide details of the intended sanctions.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/official-says-loan-repaid-claims-slander-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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