Ibnu named a suspect in promissory note forgery
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)