Executive reports illegal withdrawal

JAKARTA (JP): A company executive told the City Police yesterday that an unknown woman had stolen Rp 324 million (US$135,000) from his account at Bapindo bank.

Andi Sotar Simanjuntak, a director of PT JAS Filling System, said his money was withdrawn without his consent from the bank's branch on Jl. Rasuna Said, in South Jakarta, City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said.

Andi was surprised to discover that his account had decreased. "He went to the bank and was told by the bank officer that a woman, named Mariana, had transferred the money to an account at a BNI 46 branch office," Aritonang said.

He said the bank officer told Andi the woman had a letter of authorization signed by him (Andi) to transfer the money.

Andi told police he did not know the woman, and could not trace his money, Aritonang said.

Sri Widodo, the finance manager at the Rasuna Said branch office, authorized the transfer by the woman, police said.

Police have not yet questioned bank officials over the case.

The state-owned Bapindo was notorious for the Rp 1.3 trillion swindle by Eddy Tansil, who escaped while serving a jail term.

In a related development, Aritonang confirmed yesterday that three employees of Bank Bumi Daya had been questioned in connection with an alleged illegal withdrawal by a Syrian man.

He said the Syrian, identified as Manuel alias Pu, had withdrawn US$70,000 from a local businessman's account at the bank.

The businessman, Samin Armed was told by a bank officer that the man had withdrawn the money by showing a letter of authorization, Aritonang said." Samin then reported it to the police."

The police picked up Manuel from a hotel in Central Jakarta after hunting him for days.

During interrogation, Manuel admitted to having forged Samin's signature to withdraw the money, Aritonang said. (jun/04)