Client accuses lawyer of fraud

JAKARTA (JP): The capital has been hit by outstanding cases of fraud and embezzlement this month, four of which were reported within the past two days at Jakarta Police headquarters.

While one case still remains under tight security, sources have disclosed three other major fraud cases.

A man lodged a complaint on Tuesday against his own lawyer in connection with the embezzlement of US$20,000 in cash, a land use permit and a land ownership certificate.

"The victim identified himself as Junus Karlan, 34. He reported that he was duped by his lawyer, identified as Lucas, at the Metropolitan Building I in South Jakarta," the source said, quoting the report.

Junus lives at the Taman Villa Meruya, Block F3, No. 21 in West Jakarta.

He said in the report that he had appointed Lucas to defend him in a case last year, which was being handled by the Jakarta Police.

"Lucas came to Junus and told him that he needed US$20,000 for operational costs. Junus gave Lucas the cash on condition that if Lucas could not settle the case Junus would get all the money back," the source said.

A while later, Lucas came back for more money. Junus had run out of cash so he gave Lucas the land use permit.

"On Sept. 29 last year, Junus resolved his differences with the police. He then went to Lucas and demanded his money and certificates back. Lucas gave him nothing," the source said.

In Tuesday's second fraud case, Sisca Fitri Hartini, 35, lost her 1996 Mercedes Benz, worth about Rp 300 million (US$40,000), to an alleged buyer who only gave Sisca her cellphone number.

According to the police report Sisca was swindled by a person identified as Febriansyah Lubis, 29.

Sisca sold the sedan to Febriansyah on March 21, under the name of J. Polla of Komp. Polri housing complex No. 37 in South Jakarta. She did not clarify in her report who J. Polla was.

"Febriansyah had taken the car from my residence. We were both discussing when the payment would be made on the cellphone when it suddenly went dead. I was so worried that Febriyansyah might not give me the money that I kept trying to call her on the cellphone, but I couldn't reach her," Sisca said in her report.

In a case reported on Wednesday, Soemadi M. Wonohito, 36, who works for a company on Jl. Utan Kayu No. 85, East Jakarta, made out a complaint against a woman identified as Sri Wahyu, whom Soemadi said had embezzled Rp 293 million, an air conditioner and other equipment, from the company Soemadi worked at. He did not mention in the report the company name, or the company's activities.

"Sri embezzled the money between May and December last year," Soemadi said.

The money, made from ad placements, was supposed to be put into the company's account at the Kramat Raya branch of Bank BNI 46.

"The woman put the money into her own personal account. When we found out about this, the directors of our company wanted the money back," Soemadi said.

"Sri said she would negotiate with us... one day she took off with the money, an air conditioner and office equipment as well." (ylt)