Former minister testifies against Timan

Sat, 27 Apr 2002, 00:00 WIB | Source: JP

JAKARTA: Former finance minister Mar'ie Muhammad took the
stand in the South Jakarta District Court on Friday to testify
against the former president director of state-owned investment
firm PT Bahana Pembinaan Usaha Indonesia (BPUI), Sudjiono Timan,
42, who has been charged with corruption in a US$240.9 million
scandal.

Mar'ie said that he had disbursed Rp 250 billion (US$26.7
million) in loans to BPUI in response to the 1997 economic
crisis. The fund was aimed at stabilizing the market.

"BPUI directors must be made responsible if they used the
money for purposes other than what it was meant for, which was to
stabilize the market. It's not fair if the government has to take
all the responsibility," he told the court.

Prosecutors charged Timan under the Anticorruption Law for
allegedly abusing his authority to amass wealth for himself and
other people. The law carries a maximum penalty of 20 years
imprisonment.

PT BPUI is a company under the central bank and is responsible
for channeling funds to help small and medium-sized enterprises.
-- JP

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