Analyst grilled over defamation report

Analyst grilled over defamation report

JAKARTA: Noted capital market analyst Lin Che Wei was
questioned on Wednesday by police investigators over a defamation
report filed by Bank Lippo.

Che Wei told reporters that police asked several questions,
including about an article suggesting manipulation by Bank
Lippo's management to allow the former owner to regain control of
the bank at a huge discount.

"My article did not mention the names of certain figures. I
did not defame anyone," he said.

Lippo's Rudi T. Bachrie filed a suit against Lin Che Wei last
month after the latter wrote two articles highlighting maneuvers
by the bank's management aimed at manipulating the bank's share
price so that its owners could buy it back at a much cheaper
price.

Che Wei said he could prove the systematic efforts by Bank
Lippo's management to pave the way for the former owner, the
Riady family, to buy the bank.

The Central Jakarta District Court is currently hearing
Lippo's civil lawsuit against Che Wei over the same case. The
trial is expected to resume on Thursday. --JP