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)