Court upholds Adrian's detention

JAKARTA: The South Jakarta District Court turned down on Tuesday a motion by the defense that detention be suspended for Adrian Woworuntu, a key suspect in the Rp 1.2 trillion (US$133.3 billion) BNI scandal.

Adrian is charged with violating Law No. 3/1999 on corruption and Law No. 25/2003 on money laundering, and could face a maximum life sentence.

The court continued with the trial and heard the testimonies of two witnesses called by the prosecution, Syaiful Tahir and Nova Saragih from the Syafril Lubuk notary's office.

Adrian claimed that the Rp 1.2 trillion transferred to his personal account in the BCA Kemang branch came from the sale of his home in Cilincing, North Jakarta, and was not disbursed from fictitious letters of credit as the prosecution had charged.

The Syafril Lubuk notary's office had reportedly issued sale documents for a 154,000-square-meter property.

The trial has been adjourned until Dec. 30, when the court will hear more witnesses. -- Antara