Investigation of Kim Johannes progresses
Investigation of Kim Johannes progresses
JAKARTA (JP): The Attorney General's Office yesterday said it
is making major progress in its investigation of fraud
allegations involving businessman Kim Johannes.
Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes A. Soetomo told
reporters that government investigators have established that Kim
illegally obtained an export loan from a government owned bank.
The government however will not move to prosecute the
businessman, operating out of Singapore, until it can ascertain
the precise amount of state losses, he said.
The investigation determined that 12 export documents issued
by PT Detta Marina were forged, referring to the textile company
owned by Kim.
Soetomo said the conclusion was made after investigators
questioned Kim on two occasions and cross-examined his
information with various documents including reports from the
Directorate General of Customs and Excise and Bank Pembangunan
Indonesia (Bapindo) which gave Kim the loan.
Earlier reports suggested that Kim forged documents certifying
shipments of garments which never took place. These documents
were used to support his application with Bapindo for an export
credit last April.
Kim made headline last month when he, along with businessman
Johannes Kotjo, was mentioned as a possible buyer of the troubled
Kanindo giant textile enterprise belonging to the controversial
businessman Robby Tjahjadi.
Kim and Johannes pulled out of the deal when the government
ruled that the GKBI, the association of batik manufacturing
cooperatives, should take over the management of Kanindo.
It was in the middle of this takeover deal that the
allegations of fraud by Kim's company surfaced in the press.
The Attorney General's office has not arrested Kim for lack of
evidence but has been quietly conducting an investigation into
the allegations.
For Bapindo, the allegations represent yet another scandal
after the loss of Rp 1.3 trillion ($620 million) through its
dealings with businessman Eddy Tansil. (02)