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)