BII sues debt guarantors

JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed Bank Internasional Indonesia filed a bankruptcy claim against the debt guarantors of PT Bentala Coal Mining for failing to take over the company's Rp 13.5 billion (about US$2 million) matured debt.

The plaintiff's lawyer, Abdul Hakim G. Nusantara, said the suit was filed against the guarantors to ensure that all of the debts could be recovered.

"The guarantors are in the same position as the borrower in their obligation to repay debts under the debt guarantee agreement," Hakim said.

Named in the suit as guarantors are individuals Abu Hermanto and Wahyu Budiono and a parent company, PT Surya Andalas Corporation.

In most previous cases, creditors filed bankruptcy claims against their clients instead of debt guarantors.

The principal debt of Bentala Coal matured on May 31 this year, but the interest payments are more than a year overdue, according to Hakim.

The presiding judge in the case, Nuraslam Bustaman, adjourned the hearing on Monday for a week to hear the response of the defendants. (udi)