Ex-banker to face trial in absentia

Former president director of now defunct Bank Pelita Agus Anwar will stand trial in absentia on charges of stealing Rp 492 billion (US$49.2 million) in state money next week. Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes Hendarman Supandji said on Tuesday state prosecutors were also trying to confiscate the assets of Agus, who has fled to Singapore, to minimize state losses, but found out that many of them had been sold. Agus is being charged with misusing Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance loans. Efforts to capture him have been in vain as Indonesia and Singapore do not have an extradition treaty. -- Antara