Bank executive queried over fund release refusal
JAKARTA (JP): An executive of Standard Chartered Bank here was questioned by police yesterday following a lawsuit filed by one of the bank's customers.
The customer, businesswoman Yee Mei Mei, a Hong Kong national operating a patronage for mega projects in Indonesia, claimed that the bank -- without presenting any legal reasons -- had refused to release her account, worth around Rp 1 billion.
Accompanied by lawyer Kartini Mulyadi, David Hawkins, chief executive of the Standard's Indonesian office, arrived at the economic crime division of police headquarters at around 9:30 a.m. for the first questioning session, which lasted until late that evening.
A flock of reporters failed to obtain any information about the questioning either from Hawkins or the police.
"In the meantime, I have nothing to say, but I promise to release information (about the questioning) -- if any -- as soon as possible," the bank's spokeswoman, Rina Djamal, told The Jakarta Post by phone.
Lawyer Kartini, as well as National Police Spokesman Brig. Gen. Nurfaizi, could not be reached for comment regarding the questioning session of the lawsuit.
According to Mei Mei's lawyer, Rusdi Nurima, his client had been prevented from closing her bank account on at least three occasions in January without legitimate reasons.
"The bank only informed my client that it was Bank Indonesia (the central bank) which had advised the Standard Chartered Bank to temporarily block Mei Mei's account," Rusdi told the Post.
Rusdi said the procedure was against the existing banking regulations.
"It's only the minister of finance who has the authority to block any bank accounts in this country at the request of police, prosecutors or judges," the lawyer said.
Although there have been no official statements regarding the bank's decision to temporarily block the bank account, rumors have been circulating that the money transferred to Mei Mei's account was meant to launder profits from illegal overseas businesses.
Mei Mei, a representative of Dragon Bank in Indonesia, runs PT Dragon Bank International here.
According to Rusdi, the money was transferred by Dragon Bank's office headquarters in Vanuatu, an island country in the southwest of Pacific Ocean.
"My client has been accused of many things, but firm and sufficient evidence must be brought to court in order to prove any charges against Mei Mei," Rusdi said. "So far, she has no criminal record in any part of the world," he added.
Mei Mei sued the bank for US$300 million in compensation. The lawsuit was filed about three months ago.
"She has lost a number of projects and her reputation has been tarnished due to this case," Rusdi said.
Meanwhile, a reliable source told the Post that a number of executives from Standard Chartered's headquarters came to Mei Mei's office yesterday to discuss possibilities of settling the issue outside of court.
Rumors have it that the blockade of the bank account was due to the absence of permits from the Ministry of Finance for PT Dragon Bank Indonesia, which is designed to finance mega projects in Indonesia.
"Based on the existing law, a patronage like Dragon Bank should only have a permit issued by the Investment Coordinating Board," Rusdi argued.
In addition, it has also been rumored that the blockade has to do with a mega project for a telecommunications installation in the United Kingdom that was won by Mei Mei's firm and its partner from Indonesia, PT Harapan Insani. (bsr)