Two more Bapindo directors arraigned over loan scam<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Two more former Bapindo directors were arraigned
\nin court yesterday in connection with the massive loan scandal at
\nthe government-owned bank.<\/p>\n
Sjahrizal and Bambang Kuntjoro were formally charged with
\ncorruption during two separate hearings at the Central Jakarta
\nDistrict Court.<\/p>\n
They were held responsible, individually or collectively, with
\nother members of the bank's board of directors for allowing
\nBapindo to lose US$448 million in its dealings with businessman
\nEddy Tansil.<\/p>\n
The government prosecutors said the defendants had improperly
\nused their positions in the bank to allow Tansil to cash in on
\nhis loans in violation of standard banking procedures.<\/p>\n
Sjahrizal, 59, and Bambang, 53, were members of the Bapindo
\nboard of directors when the loans in question were extended
\nbetween 1989 and 1993. Two other board members, Towil Heryoto and
\nSubekti Ismaun, are currently being tried at the South Jakarta
\nDistrict Court.<\/p>\n
A fifth former director, Adi Sugondho, has not been charged
\napparently because he not as extensively involved as the other
\nfour.<\/p>\n
Tansil, owner of the Golden Key Group, was sentenced last week
\nto 17 years of imprisonment and ordered to pay Rp 500 billion in
\nrestitution and Rp 30 million in fines. He is appealing against
\nthe verdict to the Jakarta High Court. Maman Suparman, a former
\ndeputy manager of Bapindo's Jakarta branch was sentenced to nine
\nyears imprisonment for his role in the scam.<\/p>\n
The government prosecutors said yesterday that the loan
\nscandal affected the performance of the Indonesian economy. This
\njustified their decision to pursue the case under the 1971 anti-
\ncorruption law.<\/p>\n
Prominent role<\/p>\n
Both men, in their capacity as the bank's directors, played a
\nprominent role in approving the loans and later in changing the
\nterms of the loans which permitted Tansil to personally cash in
\non the money -- instead of his foreign suppliers as intended in
\nthe original loan application.<\/p>\n
Ridwan Moekiat, the chief prosecutor in Sjahrizal's trial,
\nsaid the directors even disbursed the loans before Tansil signed
\nthe credit agreements and opened the deposit accounts as
\nrequired.<\/p>\n
S.T. Silangit is the chief prosecutor in Bambang's trial.<\/p>\n
Judges Sihol Sitompul and Partoso are presiding the trials of
\nSjahrizal and Bambang respectively.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, Sjahrizal and Bambang have retained the
\nservices of Harjono Tjitrosoebono and Hotma Sitompoel
\nrespectively, considered to be the country's leading lawyers.
\nThey will have their chance to read their defense statements on
\nMonday. (02)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/two-more-bapindo-directors-arraigned-over-loan-scam-1447893297",
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