Courts urged to proceed with Syahril's trial

JAKARTA (JP): Prosecutors urged the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday to proceed with the corruption trial of Bank Indonesia governor Syahril Sabirin.

Chief prosecutor Y.W. Mere said that proceedings should continue because the indictment is clear and the court has legal authority to try the case.

Syahril is charged with the illegal disbursement of Rp 904 billion (US$96.2 million) of Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) funds to Bank Bali. It was later disclosed that Rp 546 billion (US$58.8 million) of the money was paid to factoring firm PT Era Giat Prima as a "commission" for helping secure the repayment of loan installments.

The prosecutor said that the offense originated from the defendant's office on Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta, on June 1, 1999. Therefore, the trial should take place in the Central Jakarta District Court.

The brief hearing was marked by a debate between defense lawyers and prosecutors regarding the court's right to try the case.

The court will decide on Thursday next week whether or not they will proceed with the trial.

A team of seven lawyers led by Muhammad Assegaf objected to the court's authority to handle the trial.

According to Assegaf, Syahril's case was of the same nature as that of businessman Djoko Sugiarto Tjandra of PT Era Giat Prima, and the former IBRA deputy chairman Pande Nasorahona Lubis, who were both acquitted by the South Jakarta District Court in August and November last year respectively.

"That's why all defendants in the Bank Bali trials must be tried at the South Jakarta District Court," Assegaf said.

In response to Assegaf's statement, prosecutor Mere said that there was a stipulation allowing investigators and judges to decide where the case should be tried.

"They are independent when considering where the case should be tried, according to the conviction," Mere said. (01)