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)