Japanese businessman flees Sidoarjo

SIDOARJO, East Java: A Japanese executive at a garment company in the Brebek Waru industrial estate in Sidoarjo, East Java, is thought to have left town at the beginning of July after failing to pay his workers.

Tokio Shimada, the head of PT IB, did not pay his workers in June after a bank confiscated some of the assets of the Japanese- financed garment manufacturing company.

"We have sent a letter to the Japanese consulate in Surabaya seeking help in finding Tokio Shimada. We are now waiting for a reply," Bambang Widagdo, the head of Sidoarjo's manpower office, said on Tuesday.

Workers from the company have held three protests at the local legislature, seeking help in locating Shimada and condemning the failure of the immigration office and the police to prevent the Japanese national's escape.

Sidoarjo councillor Tito Pradopo suggested that the remaining assets of the company be sold off and the money be used to pay the workers. --Antara