Fugitive PT DI president suspended

BANDUNG: State Minister of State Enterprises Sugiharto has suspended Edwin Soedarmo as state-owned aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) president director and replaced him with one of the firm's directors Nuril Fuad.

Sugiharto cited on Monday Edwin's two-month absence as the main reason for the suspension. He denied that the decision was made due to the Bandung District Court's ruling that sentenced Edwin to two months imprisonment for not complying with the court's order to settle the dispute over the dismissal of PT DI's 6,000 workers.

Edwin is still on the run and the Bandung Prosecutors' Office has no idea where he is.

Sugiharto also said the government would buy 10 Cassa 212 airplanes from PT DI for the Indonesian Air Force, each is priced at US$4 million. -- JP