Corruption trial opens in Central Jakarta court

JAKARTA (JP): Two executives of state-owned construction company PT Hutama Karya were indicted at Central Jakarta District Court yesterday on charges of involvement in a Rp 1.5 trillion (US$115 million) corruption scandal in two toll road projects.

Prosecutor Faried Harianto said the two defendants, who it is thought committed the crimes between May 1994 and last February, were Thamrin Tanjung, the company's project manager, and Tjokorda Raka Sukowati, the firm's president.

Faried said the two, together with accomplices identified as Lesmana Basuki, Tony Basuki, Ratnawati Pola, Djoko Ramiadji and Tony Suherman, were involved in siphoning off funds allocated for the construction of Tanjung Priok-Jembatan Tiga-Pluit toll road and Pondok Pinang-Jagorawi toll road's southern section.

The five accomplices would be tried in different sessions in the same court soon, he said, adding that Rp 209 billion of the total amount was in rupiah while the remaining Rp 1.3 trillion (US$105 million) was in U.S. dollars.

Faried said Thamrin allegedly took Rp 161 billion of the money and Tjokorda Rp 550 million for themselves.

He said the swindling was conducted by the two defendants and their five accomplices by issuing commercial papers which were endorsed by PT Hutama Karya to raise funds to continue the projects.

According to Faried, the construction of the Tanjung Priok- Jembatan Tiga-Pluit toll road, was supposed to be financed by PT Citra Marga Nusaphala Persada, a company controlled by former president Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti "Tutut" Hardijanti Rukmana.

The construction of the Pondok Pinang-Jagorawi southern section was supposed to be financed by PT Marga Nurindo Bhakti, a company partly owned by businessman Djoko Ramiadji, he said.

He said the issuance of the commercial papers was arranged by Sejahtera Bank Umum (SBU) Bank, which was liquidated by the government on Nov. 1, last year.

"The issuance of the commercial papers was illegal since it was not approved by the commissioners of PT Hutama Karya," Faried said.

He said Djoko Ramiadji received Rp 130 billion of the swindled cash, Tony Basuki and Ratnawati Pola got Rp 30 billion each, while PT Citra Marga Nusaphala Persada used Rp 104 billion and Bank SBU Rp 25 billion, he said.

The indictment did not say what happened to the rest of the money.

The total value of the commercial papers issued was Rp 1.04 trillion and US$471 million, he said.

He said the defendants and their accomplices used the money gained from the sale of the commercial papers for their personal interests.

Faried charged the defendants under Article 1(a) of Corruption Law No. 3/1971, which carries a maximum penalty of a life sentence and/or a fine of Rp 30 million.

Thamrin was detained on April 18, while Tjokorda has not been detained.

Presiding Judge Rusdi As'ad adjourned the trial until next week to hear the defendants' statements. (jun)