Former 'TVRI' president Sumita questioned as a suspect in graft case
Former 'TVRI' president Sumita questioned as a suspect in graft case
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Former president director of cash-strapped state-owned television
station TVRI, Sumita Tobing was questioned by the National Police
on Wednesday over her alleged involvement in the graft of Rp 14.5
billion (US$1.7 million).
A police investigator, who requested anonymity, said Sumita
was summoned due to her involvement in the illegal procurement of
several video cameras worth Rp 14.5 billion.
Video cameras capable of shooting broadcast quality footage
cost at least Rp 300 million each.
"She was charged for document forgery relating to the
procurement of the cameras," the source said.
If convicted Sumita could face a maximum sentence of six years
in jail.
The source also said that police had questioned 17 witnesses
out of an expected 33 witnesses in the case.
Accompanied by her lawyers, Sumita admitted on Wednesday that
she was summoned as a suspect for document forgery.
"I received a summons today for questioning as a suspect. It
states that the questioning is over document forgery," she said
at the police headquarters before the questioning.
However, she claimed that she did not know the objectives of
the investigation, and wanted to clarify the case with the
police.
"I don't know who reported the case to the police... I don't
know what today's questioning is all about. That's what I want to
ask the investigators," she said during a short break in the
interrogation.
Sumita was replaced by Hari Sulistyono on April 15 following a
conflict between several members of the board of directors and
Sumita.
The conflict had peaked when Sumita suspended Sutrimo, the
marketing director, Badaruddin, administration and finance
director, and two other directors of the television station.
Eyebrows were raised when the positions were filled by
directors with little background in the television industry.
Hari's career in journalism, for example, consisted of heading
the short-lived Lippostar news portal. Limited experience
compared to Sumita's career in television, spanning 30 years.
Enny Anggraeni Hardjanto -- as the director of news and
programs -- a position that would normally require vast media
experience is a former Citibank vice president.
And Golkar Party secretary general Lt. Gen. (ret) Budi Harsono
was appointed as commissioner.
TVRI experienced financial difficulties when the government
cut subsidies to the station, following its change of status from
perusahaan jawatan (a company financially dependent on the
government but allowed to sell ads) to perusahaan terbatas
(limited liability company no longer enjoying government
subsidies) in April 2002.
The financial problems only got worse, forcing affiliated
stations in major cities to halt operations in October last year,
like those in Aceh, Lampung, Bengkulu and Central Kalimantan.
Until last year, TVRI -- which has 23 stations and 395
transmitters across the country -- had an annual budget of Rp 150
billion. Of that amount, Rp 70 billion was allocated to pay the
salaries of more than 7,000 employees. But the remaining amount
was not enough to repair or maintain transmitting equipment, let
alone buy or make programs.