Judges reject Ramly's objection

CIBADAK, Sukabumi, West Java: The Cibadak District Court has rejected a motion submitted by PT Qurnia Subur Alam Raya (QSAR) president Ramly Arabi that fraud charges against him were obscure.

The court, led by Jasintha Daniel, ruled Monday that the trial would proceed because the charges were in line with the Criminal Code.

Ramly, promising hefty returns, collected Rp 413 billion from 6,500 investors between 2000 and 2002 for an agricultural business in Sukabumi.

Prosecutors charged Ramly with running an illegal bank, a practice violating Law No. 10/1998 on banking. The defendant was also charged with deceiving investors by failing to unveil his true financial position. The charge, a breach of Article 64 of the Criminal Code, carries a maximum 15-year jail sentence and a maximum fine of Rp 200 billion.

The case emerged last May when the company failed to pay promised returns to investors. -- Antara