Bosses could be jailed for scam
Bosses could be jailed for scam
JAKARTA (JP): A prosecutor asked the Central Jakarta District
Court on Thursday to jail two former executives of state-owned
construction company PT Hutama Karya for their parts in a Rp 1.5
trillion (US$187,500) corruption scam involving two toll road
projects.
Prosecutor Faried Harianto asked the court to sentence Thamrin
Tanjung, the company's former project manager, and Tjokorda Raka
Sukowati, the firm's former president, to five years in jail and
one and a half years in jail, respectively, for their parts in
the crime.
"The defendants gave the firm a bad image and damaged public
trust in the company. Because of the case, Hutama Karya had to
file a bankruptcy petition," Faried said.
He also asked the court to fine Thamrin Rp 30 million and
order the defendant to return Rp 9 billion to Hutama Karya.
The court also was asked to seize Thamrin's two Mercedes-Benz
sedans, a 23-hectare plot of land in Cileungsi, West Java,
several shop-houses in Bekasi and South Jakarta, an apartment on
Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta, a bank account at American Express
Bank, computers, filing cabinets and a bicycle, all which the
defendant acquired between May 1994 and last February, the time
of the alleged crimes.
Faried said although it was not proven Tjokorda had used state
funds, the defendant should be held responsible for the
corruption which occurred in the construction of the Tanjung
Priok-Jembatan Tiga-Pluit toll road and the southern section of
the Pondok Pinang-Jagorawi toll road.
However, the prosecutor said it should be taken into account
that the two defendants had helped the country build a number of
toll roads, a mitigating fact which could lighten their
punishments.
"Tjokorda is the founder of the sosrobahu toll road
construction technique, which is known nationally and
internationally," he said.
He also said Thamrin had promised to return the Rp 9 billion
to Hutama Karya.
He said the defendants were guilty of violating Article 1(a)
of Corruption Law 3/1971.
The article carries a maximum penalty of a life sentence or 20
years in jail and a fine of Rp 30 million.
The defendants are not being held in custody.
Presiding judge Rusdi As'ad adjourned the trial for two weeks,
at which time he will hear the defendants' pleas. (jun)