Court rules to proceed the trial of Maman

JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta District Court ruled yesterday to proceed with the corruption trial of Maman Suparman, the second suspect in the Rp 1.3 trillion (US$620 million) Bapindo fraud case, rejecting all the objections raised by his lawyers.

Presiding Judge Soedjatman said at the hearing that the court has the authority to try Maman, formerly deputy manager of Bapindo's Jakarta branch, and that the government prosecutors have a valid case against him.

The court will hear testimonies in Monday's court session.

Denny Kailimang, who is heading the defense team, protested the judge's decision, insisting that the prosecutors have "altered" the dossier in violation of legal procedures, and did not simply "correct" it as the judge has ruled.

Maman has been charged under the 1971 anti-corruption law, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

His alleged role was helping disburse Rp 348 billion ($178 million) worth of loans to Eddy Tansil, the main suspect in the scandal, between December 1989 and May 1992.

The prosecution is also accusing him of accepting bribes totaling Rp 256 million ($119,460) from Tansil for his services.

Maman is scheduled to testify at Tansil's trial in the Central Jakarta District Court. (05)