Hearing of Sutiyoso lawsuit begins

Hearing of Sutiyoso lawsuit begins

JAKARTA: The South Jakarta District Court began hearing on
Tuesday Governor Sutiyoso's lawsuit against activist Irma
Hutabarat over the alleged misuse of charity funds.

The trial was adjourned for a week because of the absence of
lawyers representing Irma, the chairwoman of the Institute of
Civic Education on Indonesian (ICE on Indonesia).

The suit accuses ICE on Indonesia of misusing Rp 3.65 billion
(US$4.3 million) that was collected in 2002 for the Bang Yos and
Jakarta Residents Care for Education program.

An audit completed by Brikbey Hamdan indicated that ICE on
Indonesia had used some of the money to purchase Bank Indonesia
certificates, which were deposited in an HSBC bank. The remaining
funds were deposited in an account at Lippo Bank. -- JP