Bank Indonesia cashier says his signature was forged

JAKARTA (JP): A Bank Indonesia cashier testified yesterday, in the trial of two men charged with defrauding the bank of Rp 7 billion (US$2.9 million), that his signature was forged to transfer the money to the downtown office.

Heru Kodrat told the Central Jakarta District Court that the signature on a letter sent to the downtown office, which said the Central Bank on Jl. M.H. Thamrin was transferring Rp 7 billion to their branch, was similar to his. But he said he had not signed the letter.

The transfer was later discovered to be a fraud when the money did not arrive at the downtown branch.

Standing trial were former Bank Indonesia employees, Nasran Amar and Ayub Sutarya, two of the five defendants in the case.

According to the indictments, the letter was sent by Naman Kawi on July 8, to keep the bank's cash balance. Naman is being tried separately.

The prosecution allege Nasran helped Naman, the head of cashier section, find someone with an account at the bank to receive the money.

Ayub is accused of giving his password to Naman to enter fake data into the bank's computer.

Naman filled out a form on July 8 stating that PT Aseam, which had an account in the bank, had received a transfer of Rp 7 billion, the indictments say. The form was signed Dahlan, a false name.

PT Aseam then issued six Bank Rakyat Indonesia checks on July 11, for the Rp 6.6 billion which was allegedly split by the five defendants.

The prosecution said that Rp 400 million stayed in PT Aseam's account because Roy, another defendant, owed the company the money.

The checks were presented to Bank Rakyat Indonesia on July 15 (not on July 11 as earlier reported) on Jl. Gatot Subroto.

Heru said he first heard of the case when the head of the bank's treasury division told him about it on Aug. 14.

The trial was adjourned until next Tuesday. (13)