Bank executive tried for scam

JAKARTA (JP): An executive of PT Bank Dwipa Semesta, one of the 16 banks closed by the government last November, was indicted at the Central Jakarta District Court yesterday for forging promissory notes and deposit certificates worth Rp 22 billion.

Prosecutor Andi Arifin said the defendant, Soeandi, 33, the bank's accounting division head, together with the bank's owner, Bambang Samiyono, and another bank executive Yullie Danuar, issued the illegal notes between January and June last year.

Andi said the defendant, on the orders of Bambang, issued the notes, which were unregistered at the bank, and sold them to Bank Kosagraha and several individuals. Bank Kosagraha was also liquidated last November.

Soeandi also did not report the issuance of the notes in regular meetings with the central Bank's directors as required by law, the prosecutor said.

The money obtained from the selling of the notes was transferred to Bambang's other companies: PT Dwipa Land, PT Stanindo, PT Berka Citra, PT Goden Oil and PT Sanitex, he said.

Andi said the defendant was charged under Article 49 (1) of law No. 7/1992 on banking which carries a maximum punishment of 15 years in jail and fine of Rp 10 billion.

Presiding judge P.A. Sianipar adjourned the trial until next week to hear the defending lawyer's statement.

Soeandi and Yullie were among six executives of the bank who were arrested by police in September for their alleged role in a Rp 200 billion fraud related to the bank's issuance of, promissory notes, commercial papers and certificate deposits.

Bambang is still at large. He is believed to have escaped abroad. (jun)