Guard admits receiving cash from Eddy Tansil

Guard admits receiving cash from Eddy Tansil

JAKARTA (JP): A prison warden being tried for his alleged
complicity in the escape of notorious businessman Eddy Tansil
from Cipinang penitentiary last May has denied plotting the
escape.

But defendant SM, 47, admitted to the East Jakarta District
Court that he received Rp 1.1 million (US$480) from Tansil for
taking him home.

"But I only took the money as a tip," the defendant told
Presiding Judge Kamar Sembiring, when he was cross-examined by
the court which had earlier heard a testimony from his
commandant, DH, alias Dudung, 44.

SM and DH are two of the five prison guards accused of
complicity in Tansil's escape. All five suspects are being tried
in the same court but in different hearings. And they are all
charged under Article 419 of the Criminal Code and the 1971
Anticorruption Law which can put them in prison from five to 20
years and fine them up to Rp 30 million.

In his testimony, DH said he ordered SM to wait for Tansil and
himself at his house in Cipinang Besar Utara, East Jakarta.

Yesterday's cross-examination of DH, as a witness, also
revealed that DH had received Rp 1 million from Tansil.

"I let Tansil go, because he had three letters allowing him to
seek hospital treatment. They were signed by his doctor, the head
of the prison and the commandant of prison security," he said.

But DH was silent when Judge Kamar reminded him that the
permit for the hospital visit was for Monday, May 6, two days
after Tansil's escape.

Tansil, the owner of the Golden Key Group, was serving a 20-
year prison term for defrauding Bank Pembangunan Indonesia
(BAPINDO) of US$620 million, the biggest-ever banking fraud in
Indonesia.

SM admitted he aided the escape, insisting that he did so
because DH said he himself would shoulder the responsibility.

In her indictment on SM, Prosecutor Sumirah said that SM had
colluded with the four other suspects to arrange Tansil's escape.

The prosecutor said SM had escorted Tansil from the prison,
initially in a car driven by DH's son. On the way SM and Tansil
got out of the car and took a taxi to Bukit Duri to pick up
Tansil's wife who was waiting.

SM was later given Rp 1.1 million and dropped off at Holland
Bakery on Jl. Gajah Mada in West Jakarta. Tansil and his wife
have not been seen since, Sumirah said.

The trial was adjourned until next week. (26)