Bapindo suspects demand change of arrest status
Bapindo suspects demand change of arrest status
JAKARTA (JP): A lawyer representing two suspects in the
Bapindo corruption investigation demanded the release of his
clients, stressing that by law they are entitled to wait for
their trial at home.
Lawyer Denny Kailimang told reporters yesterday that his firm
has put in a petition with the Attorney General's office for the
conditional release of Maman Suparman and Towil Heryoto.
Denny said his clients are barred from leaving the country in
any case and that they are virtually penniless after the
confiscation of most of their assets by the government.
Denny said that the families involved would be willing to
guarantee that the two men would not leave the city limits.
"There is no reason to fear that they will flee," he said.
If released, the suspects would be required to remain in
Jakarta until the start of their trials.
Maman is the former deputy manager of the Jakarta branch of
Bapindo, while Towil is a former president of the bank.
Maman has been under arrest since Feb. 16 and the warrant for
his detention has already been extended and will now expire on
April 16. Towil's term ended on Wednesday but the authorities
have extended it for 20 more days. He was arrested on March 18.
There are two other suspects in the investigation of the Rp
1.3 trillion ($620 million) scandal at the government bank. They
are Subekti Ismaun, also a former president of the bank, and Eddy
Tansil, the businessman to whom some $430 million Bapindo loans
were extended, in violation of normal banking practices.
"The Attorney General's office has no reason to extend the
arrest warrant for our clients," Denny said yesterday.
He cited article 21 of the Criminal Code which states that the
authorities cannot hold anyone unless they are flight risk, in a
position to damage or eliminate material evidence, or likely
commit another crime.
"None of these apply in regard to my clients," he said.
He further stated that his clients could be put either under
house arrest or given the liberty of the city under article 52 of
the Criminal Code.
Denny is handling Maman's case while his partner in the law
firm Rudy Lontoh has been assigned to represent Towil.
Denny said his clients are entitled to freedom of movement
within the city because of the barrage of negative publicity
given them since their arrests.
If released before their trials, they could at least defend
themselves in public, and redress public opinion before the
trials start.
The Attorney General's office is building their case based on
the 1971 anti corruption law.
Tansil has been accused of draining Bapindo of funds through
illicit means, with the help of a number of the bank's
executives.
Tansil and Maman are expected to be first before the court,
investigators said. (02)