Timber tycoon 'Bob' Hasan sent to Nusakambangan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government transferred on Tuesday convicted
\ntimber tycoon Muhamad \"Bob\" Hasan from the Cipinang penitentiary
\nin Central Jakarta to the notorious prison island of
\nNusakambangan in Central Java, in an effort to deter other
\ncorruptors.<\/p>\n
Hasan, 70, a golf buddy of former president Soeharto, was sent
\nto the tightly-guarded Batu Nusakambangan penitentiary, which is
\nmainly inhabited by criminals convicted of murder, robbery and
\ndrug offenses.<\/p>\n
According to Nusakambangan warden Sunardi, Hasan arrived at
\nWijayapura Port at 6:30 a.m. accompanied by Cipinang officer.<\/p>\n
Hasan, who is serving a six-year jail term for corruption, was
\nplaced in the orientation block, where all new inmates are
\ninitially housed.<\/p>\n
\"We don't know how long he will stay in the block, it depends
\non the inmate's condition. The longest period will be three
\nmonths,\" Sunardi said.<\/p>\n
He added that Hasan will receive the same treatment as any
\nother inmate.<\/p>\n
The isolated Nusakambangan island holds some 150 inmates, who
\nhave an average sentence of over five years.<\/p>\n
Minister of Justice and Human Rights Baharuddin Lopa said on
\nTuesday morning that Hasan was sent to Nusakambangan to deter
\nother corruptors.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully, those who commit corruption will think twice, as
\nthey could also be sent to Nusakambangan -- not just murderers,\"
\nLopa said.<\/p>\n
According to Lopa, the transfer was also aimed at preventing
\nthe case of Eddy Tansil from reoccurring.<\/p>\n
Eddy is a prisoner still at large after bribing wardens and
\nwalking out of Cipinang five years ago.<\/p>\n
\"Eddy Tansil was heavily guarded but still able to escape.
\nTherefore, we decided to transfer Hasan to Nusakambangan, which
\nis relatively more difficult to escape from,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Another reason, Lopa added, is to protect Hasan from any
\npossible threat coming from his fellow inmates.<\/p>\n
\"It is also proof that anyone can be put in Nusakambangan,
\nwhether they are rich or poor,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Lopa, who was installed as a minister one month ago to replace
\nYusril Ihza Mahendra, denied that the transfer is politically
\nmotivated.<\/p>\n
Hasan, who held the post as a minister of industry and trade
\nfor about two months before Soeharto resigned in 1998 and the
\ncabinet was dissolved, was the first of Soeharto's cronies to be
\nsent to court.<\/p>\n
Early in February, the Central Jakarta District Court
\nsentenced Hasan, a former chairman of the Indonesian Forest
\nConcessionaires Association, to two years in jail after he was
\nfound guilty of misusing US$75 million in funds belonging to the
\nMinistry of Forestry. He was also ordered to pay a Rp 15 million
\nfine and return Rp 14.1 billion to the state.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta High Court later tripled the jail term after it
\nfound that the state suffered losses of US$243 million and
\nordered the convict to repay it.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, prosecutor Arnold Angkouw told reporters that the
\nAttorney General's Office was not aware of the transfer.<\/p>\n
\"We haven't received notification of the transfer.
\nTransferring inmates is actually the penitentiary's authority,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
However, Arnold regretted the transfer as it will make future
\nlegal proceedings against Hasan more difficult. Hasan is
\ncurrently being investigated in relation to another case.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors suspect that Hasan, a former chief patron of the
\nAssociation of Indonesian Wood Panel Producers, and Asmaning
\nTjipto Wignjoprajitno, the association's former chairman,
\nmisappropriated some $84 million.<\/p>\n
\"Yes, Hasan can give written statements, but we should
\nconsider the effectiveness and efficiency of the process,\" Arnold
\nsaid. (45\/hdn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/timber-tycoon-bob-hasan-sent-to-nusakambangan-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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