City to nominate six candidates for Bank DKI

City to nominate six candidates for Bank DKI

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has nominated six names
to chair the city-owned Bank DKI following Wednesday's dismissal
of its president, an official said on Friday.

City Secretary Fauzi Bowo said the names of the six candidates
had already been submitted to Bank Indonesia, the central bank,
which has the authority to pick the right person.

Fauzi refused to disclose the names.

The bank's former president, Maman Soelasman, was sacked
during a general shareholders meeting on Wednesday for allegedly
being unable to improve the bank's poor condition.

Meeting participants then appointed Koesworodjati, an official
from Bank Indonesia, as the bank's caretaker and chief
commissioner.

Fauzi guaranteed that Koesworodjati was not on the list.

"We can't nominate Koesworodjati because he is also the chief
commissioner," he said.

"We need him to ensure the interbank clearing activities of
the bank can run as smoothly as usual, especially with the coming
of the city's new budget where we need to withdraw a large amount
of money," he added.

Contacted separately, Maman accused Koesworodjati of having a
hidden ambition of becoming the bank's president.

"The central bank has always named him to hold the position,
but Governor Sutiyoso chose me," he said over the phone.

"Sutiyoso asked me to manage Bank DKI, to take it out of its
poor condition and improve its financial condition," he added.

Before his tenure at Bank DKI, Maman worked for state Bank BDN
for 38 years and retired in 1996.

Maman said Koesworodjati's appointment as both the bank's
caretaker and chief commissioner violated regulations on private
companies.

"However, Bank DKI's statute allows such a thing under an
emergency situations, while questioning his dismissal.

"The meeting found me guilty of transferring the bank's
profits to the city administration as revenue for the city
budget. The transfer, ironically, was requested by the city
administration, as the bank's owner, and also by city councillors
to support the city budget," he said.

He said he did not know if it violated the central bank's
regulations as none of his staff had informed him.

"The transfer was at the owner's request. I was only
proceeding as requested," he said.

Maman is also accused of allegedly misusing Rp 750 million,
which he has denied. The Jakarta prosecutor's office is currently
investigating the case.

Maman handed over his position to Koesworodjati on Friday
evening. (nvn)