Govt rejects Tansil's offer to hand over his projects

Govt rejects Tansil's offer to hand over his projects

JAKARTA (JP): State prosecutors firmly rejected yesterday Eddy
Tansil's offer to turn over eight of his industrial ventures in
settlement of the Rp 1.3 trillion ($620 million) in losses he
caused to the state in his loan transactions with Bapindo, a
government bank.

The prosecutors told a hearing at the Central Jakarta District
Court yesterday that the assets of Tansil's Golden Key Group
would barely cover the losses he inflicted on the state.

Tansil, who is facing corruption charges, had earlier offered
the government the opportunity to take over eight industrial
ventures, four completed and four barely constructed, which he
claimed had a combined worth of Rp 1.5 trillion.

Lukman Bachmid, who is leading the prosecution, said an
independent evaluation had determined that the four companies are
worth only 29.7 billion. He pointed out that it is inconceivable
that the other four could be worth Rp 1.4 trillion.

Lukman said Tansil's gesture amounted to a lie. "Tansil is not
a man to trust."

Lukman reminded the court that Tansil had even tried to
deceive Sudomo, the cabinet minister who helped him obtain the
loans in 1989, when it became apparent that his credits were
turning sour.

Sudomo, the coordinating minister for political affairs and
security from 1989 to 1993, issued a letter of reference to
support Tansil's credit applications to Bapindo. Sudomo is now
the chairman of the Supreme Advisory Board.

Tansil's trial is now reaching its final stages.

Lukman was responding yesterday to Tansil's not guilty plea
made in his closing remarks.

The prosecutor is pressing for life imprisonment and has asked
the court to order Tansil to pay Rp 800 billion to the government
and another Rp 30 million in penalty.

Maman Suparman, the former deputy manager of Bapindo's Jakarta
branch who dealt with Tansil, was sentenced to nine years in jail
by South Jakarta District Court for his part in allowing Tansil
to defraud the bank.

Arraignment

Two former Bapindo directors, Subekti Ismaun and Towil
Heryoto, are now being tried for their role in the swindle. Two
other former directors, Bambang Kuntjoro and Sjahrizal, are
waiting for arraignment soon.

Towil's trial at the South Jakarta District Court yesterday
proceeded with the testimony of the first witnesses.

Testimony by three witnesses, all from the Golden Key Group,
strengthened the speculation that Tansil was virtually running
the business all by himself.

Koesno A. Jein, president of Golden Key Group, said he knew
nothing about the group's business activities. He added that he
only signed blank forms in connection with the group's credit
applications to Bapindo.

Antonius Widjaya, another director, said he only waited for
Tansil's instructions and knew nothing about what he should do as
a director. He spent most of his time typing, calling people, or
doing nothing in the office.

Both Koesno and Antonius are listed as shareholders but they
said that Tansil owned all the shares.

Samantha Widjaya, an import officer, said she only prepared
the documents needed to import the machinery and equipment
ordered by the group's companies from South Korean and Chinese
suppliers.

She said that she did not know whether the imported goods
arrived or not. (05)