Alleged fraud at flying service company probed

JAKARTA (JP): City police detectives began an investigation on Wednesday into the alleged embezzlement of Rp 744 million (US$99,200) and $63,722 at aviation consultancy firm PT Aerospace Nusantara Service Center (ASC).

The embezzlement reportedly occurred over a span of six years beginning in 1992. PT ASC employee Caecilia Dhanny Triantari, who worked in the financial division of the company and who has since been suspended, is the main suspect in the case.

A police source said Caecilia started working for the company in April 1991. The company, located on Jl. Raya Hankam in Pondok Gede, Bekasi, was founded in 1990 and is operated by retired Indonesian Air Force officers.

"We have just received a portion of the evidence. We have not even called Caecilia in for questioning. The police are still investigating the case," the source said.

A police report was made out on Tuesday by one of the company's directors, Njoto Soebandrio, 63, at city police headquarters.

Njoto alleged in the police report that the woman embezzled the money by withdrawing funds from the company's bank accounts after altering the company's books and depositing the money in her personal accounts at a number of banks.

Separately, Njoto told The Jakarta Post that PT ASC directors and shareholders had done everything to try and get the money back from Caecilia, but she refused to return it.

"We took one year to collect all the evidence we have against her in all the years she worked for us. We have bank receipts which prove she withdrew huge sums of money from the company's two bank accounts," Njoto said.

"We also have evidence that in a matter of days after the withdrawals, she opened accounts in her name at Bank Putera Multi Karsa, Bank Danamon and Bank Tamara. We have other evidence as well, some of which PT ASC has handed over to our lawyer, Kanon Armiyanto."

He added that Caecilia, who was a trusted staff member, was often given blank, signed checks to be used in case of an emergency whenever the company's directors traveled abroad on business.

"She used those checks, but she fixed the (account) books, and we have proof of this. We got our first lead when she opened a bank account at Bank Tamara on Jl. Panglima Polim, where her husband used to work," Njoto said.

Meanwhile, Caecilia told the Post that she was not afraid of being summons by the police because she had nothing to hide.

"PT ASC has reported this case before at the police substation in Pondok Gede, where I live. I was called and questioned by the police and they could not prove anything," Caecilia said.

"I would like very much to be brought before the PT ASC shareholders so that I can explain to them everything in detail about those controversial accounts."

When told about the police report and the bank accounts which she allegedly opened using the company's money, Caecilia laughed.

"The directors knew I opened those accounts. I opened them at their insistence. I have returned all of the money to them. I don't understand. What do they want from me now?" she said.

She added that she had surrendered whatever evidence she had to her lawyer, Anthony Panjaitan. (ylt)