PBSI to probe missing $250,000<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI)
\nhas set up a four-person team to track down contract money worth
\nUS$250,000 from Japanese sports equipment maker Yonex.<\/p>\n
Association secretary-general Leo Ch. Wiranata said Monday the
\nmoney should have been paid to the country's elite shuttlers in
\nexchange for them using the company's products over the past four
\nmonths.<\/p>\n
He said the badminton body found the arrears after a number of
\nshuttlers demanded their respective shares of the contract.<\/p>\n
The team consists of Leo, the association's deputy chairman
\nAgus Wirahadikusumah, treasurer Yurmansyah Herman and deputy
\ntreasurer Serian Wijatno.<\/p>\n
Leo said the team would examine all bills the badminton body
\nhad paid and receipts received since 1993 to verify whether there
\nwas any misuse of the contract money.<\/p>\n
\"The last receipt we received was for the third quarter of the
\ncontract from August to October 1997,\" Leo was quoted by Antara
\nas saying.<\/p>\n
The badminton body extended its collective contract with Yonex
\nfor another year last year to run through 1998. Yonex is paying
\nthe money in four installments of $250,000.<\/p>\n
Due to the monetary crisis which also hit Japan, half of the
\nmoney was paid in rupiah, using a fixed exchange rate of Rp 5,000
\nfor one U.S. dollar.<\/p>\n
\"Each player will receive his or her money in two currencies
\nas well,\" he said, adding that all the players had agreed to the
\npayment terms.<\/p>\n
The contract covers between 50 and 80 players, with a top
\nplayer receiving up to $16,000 a year.<\/p>\n
Leo said the team would ask for Yonex's explanation for the
\narrears, although the Japanese company has reportedly already
\ntransferred the money to the badminton body's account.<\/p>\n
Separately, former ace shuttler Hermawan Susanto said he could
\nunderstand the Japanese sponsor's failure to disburse the money.<\/p>\n
\"I know they are also feeling the pinch of this financial
\nadversity, but how about us? I just want them to understand that
\nwe make our living from the sport,\" said Hermawan, who quit the
\nnational training center last month.<\/p>\n
\"I've resigned and I hope I can use the money to run a
\nbusiness. The badminton body always asks me to wait, because it
\nis already busy with other problems,\" Hermawan complained. (emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pbsi-to-probe-missing-250000-1447893297",
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