Former De Mono employee tried

JAKARTA (JP): A former employee of De Mono cooperative faced Central Jakarta Court yesterday on charges of deception for allegedly tricking a woman into paying Rp 23 million (US$7,666).

The victim, Elly Latief, said in her indictment that she wrote a check for the cost of a minivan from the cooperative and gave it to the defendant, Mansur Tidore, in May.

"But I never got the car," she said. "Then I found out that Mansur had been fired from the cooperative."

Elly needed the minivan from the cooperative, which was founded by businesswoman Dewi Motik Pramono, to expand her own business.

She had asked Mansur to return the money, when she did not receive the car, but he had already spent the money on himself, including buying a motorcycle.

Prosecutor M. Syafei said the defendant could face a maximum sentence of four years in jail.

The trial will continue before Judge P.A. Sianipar next week. (jun)