Savings chain scheme still under investigation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Despite growing concern from the public, police
\nhave yet to take action against the operation of the
\ncontroversial Danasonic arisan savings chain scheme.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that the public can be a little bit patient because
\nwe're still studying the case in depth,\" National Police Chief
\nGen. Banurusman Astrosemitro told reporters yesterday.<\/p>\n
He said police are still studying whether the operators of the
\nscheme can be charged with fraud, embezzlement, operating an
\nillegal bank or with forgery.<\/p>\n
The police still need more time to collect more information
\nbefore making a final decision, he said.<\/p>\n
Arisan is actually a periodic gathering to draw lots for an
\naggregate sum of money contributed by the members.<\/p>\n
Unlike the traditional arisan system, the Danasonic arisan
\nchain savings scheme, run by Jakarta-based PT Saptamitra
\nEkakarya, requires new members to pay Rp 11,000 (US$4.95) to the
\norganizer and Rp 10,000 each to two other participants listed on
\na coupon.<\/p>\n
In return, he or she can receive up to Rp 10 million if they
\ncan actively sell coupons to other newcomers who become active.<\/p>\n
With its headquarters on Jl. Raya Pasar Minggu in South
\nJakarta, PT Saptamitra Ekakarya, which began operating three
\nyears ago, is run by an elderly couple, Sindi Husain and his wife
\nAnneke Kolondam, respectively commissioner and president of the
\nfirm.<\/p>\n
So far, executives of the firm claimed that the number of its
\nmembers has reached around 500,000 people nationwide, while
\npolice estimate the number to be about 10 million.<\/p>\n
The participants of the arisan are of varied education and
\nskill backgrounds, including university students, bankers,
\nfarmers and journalists.<\/p>\n
When asked to comment on the ongoing police investigation into
\nthe scheme, Sindi Husain said: \"We're ready at anytime to be
\nquestioned and will be pleased if the police can decide as soon
\nas possible what specific rules we have violated.\"<\/p>\n
\"If we're in the wrong, police can arrest us at anytime at our
\noffice here and seize all material evidence available,\" Sindi
\nchallenged.<\/p>\n
City Police spokesman Lt. Col. Bambang Haryoko said yesterday
\nthat the city office for trade affairs might soon withdraw the
\ntrading license of the company.<\/p>\n
Although the police have not received any complaints from
\nparticipants of the scheme, they claim there is strong indication
\nthat executives of the scheme only wanted to cheat people through
\nsuch an attractive, promising game.<\/p>\n
Based on their findings, city police then decided to
\ninvestigate the arisan savings chain scheme three months ago in
\nan effort to learn of any losses suffered by people taking part
\nin the arisan. They also froze the funds sent by new members of
\nthe scheme to PT Saptamitra Ekakarya at several banks and post
\noffices.(bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/savings-chain-scheme-still-under-investigation-1447893297",
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