SEA Games consortium criticized<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Gelora Senayan sports complex management
\nboard expressed disappointment on Tuesday with the 19th Southeast
\nAsian (SEA) Games underwriting consortium for failing to live up
\nto its commitment to pay off its outstanding debts.<\/p>\n
Director of the sports complex, Yasidi Hambali, said none of
\nthe consortium members had ever shown up or written to him after
\nthe board gave permission to the consortium to repay its Rp 1
\nbillion debt in installments over two years starting last
\nOctober.<\/p>\n
\"I wish one of them would step into my office and talk to us
\nas a gentleman. I will be prepared to offer them debt
\nrescheduling if they come up,\" Yasidi said.<\/p>\n
The consortium, chaired by one of former president Soeharto's
\nsons, Bambang Trihatmodjo, begged for a waiver of its debts to
\nthe board in May last year, pleading financial constraints.<\/p>\n
In its audit report, the consortium declared a Rp 68 billion
\ndeficit for staging the Games in October 1997. The financial loss
\nexcluded Rp 46 billion in debts the consortium owes to the
\nSenayan management board, the Jatiluhur reservoir authorities and
\nhotels which accommodated participating athletes during the
\nbiennial event as well as the Ministry of Forestry.<\/p>\n
The consortium's executive director, Bambang Riyadi Soegama,
\ntold State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono,
\nwho is also a vice chairman of the Senayan management board, in
\ntheir last meeting last September that the consortium did not
\nembezzle the loans. Soegama also said the consortium would
\napprove a legal settlement if it failed to pay off its debts.<\/p>\n
However, Yasidi doubted the consortium's goodwill.<\/p>\n
\"They had said that four persons gave their personal guarantee
\nto the creditors, but we have been unaware which one of them was
\nresponsible for the debt settlement since the Games were over,\"
\nYasidi said.<\/p>\n
He said the Senayan management board would extend the term of
\ndebt payment while waiting for other creditors before taking
\naction against the consortium.<\/p>\n
\"So far we have always decided on a measure only after
\nconsulting the minister of youth affairs and sports. We prefer to
\nsee how other creditors react to the case,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said he would ask the consortium to settle its debts to
\nhotels first. (yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sea-games-consortium-criticized-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}