Former bank president adjusts to life in jail

Former bank president adjusts to life in jail

JAKARTA (JP): Former Bapindo president Subekti Ismaun, who was
convicted of corruption, says he is adjusting to life in jail at
the Salemba penitentiary as he waits for the outcome of his
appeal against the December verdict.

Subekti finds consolation in the fact that he is in the same
block at the Salemba penitentiary as four other former Bapindo
executives -- Towil Heryoto, Sjahrizal, Bambang Kuntjoro and
Maman Suparman -- who were all convicted on the same charge.

Found by reporters during a breaking of the fast at the jail
with Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman on Friday, Subekti said he
and the other former Bapindo executives often get together to
reminisce about their heyday at the bank. "We discuss Bapindo's
long term plan," he said jokingly.

The five former executives were implicated in the Rp 1.3
trillion ($620 million) scandal at Bapindo. They were all found
guilty of colluding with and aiding businessman Eddy Tansil in
siphoning off large sums of funds from the bank. Tansil is in a
different block in Salemba penitentiary.

Subekti, who is serving a six-year jail term, appeared to be
the only one among them who braced himself to meet with the
minister and entertain journalists' question on Friday.

The other former Bapindo executives were not present at the
dinner.

"I am fine. I feel like I'm living in an ordinary world,"
Subekti said of his new life among murderers, robbers, rapists,
crooks and other criminals. "I can chat with the prison guards
and mingle with other inmates," he said.

Family

He said he always looks forward to the time when his family
comes to visit.

Subekti, who was speaking in the presence of prison officials,
denied the theory that a corruptor inside a prison is continually
harassed by fellow inmates and guards for money.

In fact, he welcomed his recent transfer from the detention
center at the Attorney General's office, where he was kept during
the long court trial last year, to Salemba.

"At the Attorney General's Office everyone tried to avoid me
as if I had AIDS," he recalled. "They were terrified of being
seen with me, fearful of being accused that they were in
collusion with me."

Subekti said he was resigned to his fate of spending some time
in jail and is trying to make the most out of his time inside.

"I am currently reading John Grisham's The Chamber," he said,
adding that he had also read novels written by Sydney Sheldon. He
also has read religious, economic, and fictional books.

He is also trying to write a book, in longhand due to the
absence of computer which he was more accustomed to when he was a
bank director. (imn)