Sumarlin hit with new allegations<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Two former directors of the Bank Pembangunan
\nIndonesia (Bapindo) leveled fresh allegations, yesterday,
\nregarding the role played by former finance minister J.B.
\nSumarlin in the Rp. 1.3 trillion ($620 million) scandal at the
\ngovernment-owned bank.<\/p>\n
Subekti Ismaun and Bambang Kuntjoro, in separate testimony,
\nsaid that Sumarlin put pressure on the bank's directors to
\nvirtually give businessman Eddy Tansil a blank check.<\/p>\n
Sumarlin was finance minister at the same time that he was the
\nbank's chief commissioner.<\/p>\n
The two men were testifying in the trial of another former
\nBapindo director, Towil Heryoto, at the South Jakarta District
\nCourt. He is facing accusations of collaborating with Tansil, the
\nowner of the Golden Key Group, to help him defraud the bank of
\n$448 million with loans obtained between 1989 and 1993. Former
\nbank directors Subekti and Bambang, as well as former-director
\nSjahrizal, are all being tried on similar charges.<\/p>\n
Sumarlin, who is now the chairman of the Supreme Audit Board,
\nhas denied allegations that he put pressure on Bapindo to
\ncontinue the loans to Tansil when the bank directors became wary
\nof the high risk of default in June, 1992.<\/p>\n
Subekti said in his testimony that in June 1991, Sumarlin was
\ninsisting that Bapindo take the lead in the loan syndicate to
\nfinance one of Tansil's projects -- even though the bank was
\nalready exceeding its limit in lending funds to Tansil.<\/p>\n
\"Bapindo is not interested in financing PT Pusaka Warna of
\nPolyethylene anymore,\" Subekti said, repeating a statement he
\nmade during the meeting with Sumarlin and Tansil when he was
\nasked to finance one of the three petrochemical projects of the
\nGolden Key Group.<\/p>\n
Subekti said Tansil offered a way out by suggesting that
\nBapindo take up a long term loan from Sinopec, a Hong Kong based
\nfinancial institution, and use the money to make fresh loans to
\nGolden Key Group.<\/p>\n
The bank agreed to the proposal after assurances from Sumarlin
\nthat the Indonesian Export Association (ASEI) would underwrite
\nthe insurance policy for the loans, he said.<\/p>\n
In his testimony, Bambang also disclosed a conversation he had
\nwith Towil before June 2, 1992, about how Sumarlin had put
\npressure on Towil to approve another loan application from
\nTansil. \"This one was for a Rp 1.9 trillion olefin and aromatic
\nplant.\"<\/p>\n
Resisted<\/p>\n
Towil resisted the pressure, saying that Bapindo had already
\nextended huge sums to the Golden Key Group, according to Bambang.<\/p>\n
Bambang also recalled that Sumarlin during a meeting with
\nSjahrizal on June 2, 1992, gave an instruction that Bapindo
\nshould make good on all its commitments to Tansil.<\/p>\n
His instruction annulled an earlier decision by the bank's
\nboard of directors to cut on their losses, then still amounting
\nto just over $200 million.<\/p>\n
Sumarlin has denied having issued such an instruction and
\ndoubted the existence of a meeting with Sjahrizal on June 2,
\n1992, pointing out that he was in Jayapura helping with an
\nelection campaign for Golkar, the ruling political organization,
\non that day.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's trial also heard testimony of Husein Syarkawi and
\nBudi Setiawan. They were a Bapindo staff member and head of the
\nBapindo's Planning and Development division, respectively, at the
\ntime that the credits were extended.<\/p>\n
Tansil was already sentenced to 17 years imprisonment and
\nordered to pay Rp 500 billion in restitution and Rp 30 million in
\nfines. Maman Suparman, formerly deputy manager of Bapindo's
\nJakarta branch, was sentenced to nine years imprisonment for his
\nrole in the scam. (02)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sumarlin-hit-with-new-allegations-1447893297",
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