Executive tried for embezzlement of Rp 4b

JAKARTA (JP): A former private company executive was indicted at Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday on charges of embezzling Rp 4 billion (US$470,588).

Prosecutor Hapastan Harahap said the defendant, Soebiyanto Arifin, 40, the former president of PT Pan Gas Nusantara Industri, embezzled the money between May 1990 and July 1992.

"The defendant caused the state a loss of about Rp 4 billion," Harahap said.

He said the defendant's firm secured a loan worth Rp 27.5 billion from the state Bank Rakyat Indonesia in 1990. The defendant used about Rp 4 billion of the loan for his own purposes.

The defendant has been charged under Article 28 of Law No.3/1971 on corruption, which carries a maximum punishment of life imprisonment and a fine of Rp 30 million.

Presiding judge Dalil Ahmad adjourned the trial until next week, when he will hear the defense lawyer's response to the indictment.

Soebiyanto was not detained in custody.

Liston Sibarani, who is representing the defendant, said that the case had been brought to trial following pressure from the company's workers.

"The workers threatened to stage a demonstration if the prosecutor's office did not take the case to court," Liston told The Jakarta Post.

The courtroom was packed company employees eager to see their former president face the law. (jun)