Charges to be laid in soccer scam

JAKARTA (JP): At least three of the 15 witnesses who have been questioned in connection with an alleged soccer match-fixing and bribery scam will be named suspects, police said yesterday.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said officers were preparing to interrogate the suspects next Wednesday.

"The suspects will be charged with encouraging the match- fixing and bribery, giving a bribe or taking a bribe."

He refused to disclose the names of the suspects.

But the number of offenders is expected to continue growing as the alleged scandal involves many parties.

All the suspects will be charged under the 1980 Antibribery Law, he said.

The law carries a maximum of five years in jail and a Rp 15 million fine for any party found guilty of encouraging or giving a bribe. The party receiving the bribe is subject to a maximum of three years in jail and a Rp 15 million fine.

Aritonang identified the 15 witnesses who have been questioned as Amran YS, Edi Ellison, Hairul Agil, Pracoyo, Sukring, Nasarudin, Endang Subarna, Khalik Jito, Yoseph Laisina, Sas Mulyadi, Dadang S, Mulyana Soebari, Benny Subur Lesman, Alexander and Helmy Liliang.

Alexander, an executive of Mataram Indocement soccer club, and Helmy, a referee, were questioned yesterday, he said.

"Six of the 15 witnesses are executives of soccer clubs and some others are referees."

Aritonang said six of the suspects were from at least three soccer clubs, namely Persikab and Persib from Bandung, West Java, and Mataram Indocement from West Nusa Tenggara.

Police began investigating the scandal last week after the All-Indonesian Soccer Federation concluded its internal investigation on match-fixing and bribery during last season's Indonesian League.

The federation suspects senior referee Djafar Umar was the main perpetrator of the scandal. Djafar has since been dismissed and the federation banned him from refereeing for 20 years. (cst)