Former BI director tried for graft

JAKARTA: Former Bank Indonesia director Hendrobudiyanto stood trial on Monday, charged with manipulating the central bank's liquidity support funds (BLBI) and causing the state to suffer a total of Rp 18.2 trillion in losses.

Prosecutor Suhartono read out his indictment at a hearing presided over by Judge Rusdi As'ad at the Central Jakarta District Court.

Hendrobudiyono was the third former BI director to have been indicted for abusing his position. Earlier, other central bank directors Paul Sutopo and Heru Soepraptomo were also indicted on similar charges. Both of them appeared at the same court last week.

Hendrobudiyono is charged with corruption and is facing a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail, if found guilty.--JP