Ibnu named a suspect in promissory note forgery

JAKARTA (JP): The National Police are to send officers to the United States to investigate the alleged forgery of promissory notes worth about US$3 billion by Ibnu Hartomo, former president Soeharto's brother-in-law.

Ibnu was officially named a suspect by the police on Friday for falsifying 500 promissory notes which were sold to a Syrian, identified as Hasan Zubaidi, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Togar M. Sianipar said on Friday.

Togar said the dispatching of the officers to the U.S. was intended mainly to obtain information from witnesses, including two American citizens in Arizona and New York.

Ibnu's alleged wrongdoing was first probed by the Attorney General in 1985, but the case was transferred to the National Police last month after being categorized as a 'general crime', Togar said.

"We just received the transfer of the case from the Attorney General's Office last month."

Togar, however, was guarded in his comments on the reason for the long delay in investigating the case.

"If you ask why the police are slow in investigating the case, it's because we have not had enough funds to fly our officers to America. But I don't think I dare to comment on why the Attorney General's Office was slow at the time (in 1985)," he said.

Ibnu, the younger brother of Soeharto's wife, allegedly committed the forgery during his tenure as deputy of the National Council of Defense and Security (Wanhankamnas) in 1985.

The police investigation was being conducted in response to recent reports from the two Americans, Togar said without giving exact dates of the reports.

"They were among the people who fell victim to the crime which was committed by Syrian Hasan Zubaidi and Ibnu Hartomo."

The person in Arizona had bought seven notes worth US$175 million, while the one in New York had bought two notes worth US$25 million, Togar said.

The two Americans had also showed the police the fake notes bought from Hasan, Togar said.

Togar said, however, the police had yet to set a date to summon Ibnu, who is reportedly undergoing medical treatment abroad.

If there is sufficient evidence, Ibnu could be charged under Article 264 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of eight years imprisonment.

According to Togar, there is a possibility of investigating other government officials who held the same post as Ibnu as the case is still open. (emf)