Tanri files complaint against Manimaren<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Former state minister of empowerment of state
\nenterprises Tanri Abeng, a suspect in the Rp 546 billion (US$78
\nmillion) Bank Bali scandal, filed a complaint at National Police
\nheadquarters on Tuesday morning protesting business tycoon
\nMarimutu Manimaren's alleged false testimony to police
\ninvestigators last December.<\/p>\n
"I had to come here. Nobody can slander and lie and spoil the
\nreputation of another like he has been doing," Tanri told
\nreporters at noon, after a two-hour meeting with police officers.<\/p>\n
Tanri was accompanied by his lawyers, Ruhut Sitompul and Hotma
\nSitompoel.<\/p>\n
"I am disappointed with Manimaren's statements made to the
\npolice about me. They are not only inconsistent, but they state
\nthat I am involved in the scandal. This has been going on since
\nlast December."<\/p>\n
Hotma agreed with Tanri, adding that the only one who stated
\nthat former Bank Bali director Rudy Ramli had received calls from
\nTanri, was Manimaren.<\/p>\n
"If some other person has proof of this, just bring it to
\ncourt," Hotma said.<\/p>\n
Tanri is the highest profile name to be officially linked to
\nthe case, which surfaced last year.<\/p>\n
He and Bank Indonesia official Erman Munzir were declared
\nsuspects by Soehandoyo, spokesman for the Attorney General's
\nOffice in a hastily called media conference on Jan. 21.<\/p>\n
With a reputation as one of Indonesia's most astute business
\nexecutives, Tanri was appointed as a Cabinet minister during
\nformer president Soeharto's last term in 1998.<\/p>\n
He was again selected by B.J. Habibie during his tumultuous
\n18-month presidency.<\/p>\n
Erman worked as a Bank Indonesia official in the supervision
\ndepartment. Soehandoyo said Erman is currently suspended.<\/p>\n
The Bank Bali scandal centers around transfer of Rp 546
\nbillion to PT Era Giat Prima (EGP) as a commission for services
\nin assisting the bank to recoup Rp 904 billion in interbank loans
\nguaranteed by the government.<\/p>\n
EGP is owned by businessman Djoko S. Chandra and Golkar
\nlegislator Setya Novanto. It is suspected that the commission
\nended in the hands of Golkar Party executives to help secure the
\nnomination of then president B.J. Habibie.<\/p>\n
Officials of the Attorney General's Office earlier named
\nDjoko, Setya, Rudy and former Indonesian Bank Restructuring
\nAgency deputy chairman Pande Lubis as suspects.<\/p>\n
After questioning Tanri in October, National Police detectives
\nsaid they were unable to find any signs of his involvement in the
\nscandal.<\/p>\n
"Pak Tanri Abeng has not been proven (to be involved) in any
\ncorrupt practices. We have nothing against him. So far, he is
\nfree from suspicion of corruption," former chief of the National
\nPolice detectives directorate for corruption practices Col. Fajar
\nIstiono said at the time.<\/p>\n
Tanri was questioned in connection with an audit report by
\nPricewaterhouseCooper which alleged that money was also deposited
\nin a bank account of a Tanri company. (ylt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tanri-files-complaint-against-manimaren-1447893297",
"image": ""
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