Anton tried for Rp 1.3b car fraud

Anton tried for Rp 1.3b car fraud

JAKARTA (JP): Four of 13 people defrauded by a car dealer
testified at the Central Jakarta district court yesterday that
Anton Hartanto took them for a very expensive ride.

Anton is being tried for swindling Rp 1.3 billion (US$
584,300) from his clients last year as down payments on several
types of cars, including a Mercedes Benz C-320, which he failed
to deliver.

The defendant, who used to work at an insurance company,
tricked his clients by offering them luxury cars at prices much
lower than those offered by authorized dealers.

One of the witnesses said yesterday that he was tempted by
Anton's offer and decided to buy a Mercedes Benz C-320 at
Rp 200 million (US$ 89,900), Rp 150 million less than its actual
price of Rp 350 million (US$ 157,300).

Anton was arrested after his victims reported him to the
police.

He refused to be accompanied by lawyers at yesterday's
session, saying only: "I admit that I'm wrong, so I'll have to
take all the responsibility," he told journalists after the
preliminary trial.

The presiding judge adjourned the hearing until next week.(03)