Lubis denies Sofyan named as a suspect

Lubis denies Sofyan named as a suspect

JAKARTA (JP): The lawyer representing a businessman implicated
in a bank credit scandal said his client, Sofyan Wanandi, could
not be named a suspect because he had never been even questioned
over the matter.

Todung Mulya Lubis said Tuesday his client had yet to be
summoned by the prosecutor for alleged abuse of bank credit usage
involving three government banks.

"We were surprised after reading the Kompas and Merdeka
dailies today," Todung said, referring to reports that his client
had been named a suspect by the Attorney General as of Feb. 15.

On Monday, the Attorney General's Office spokesman Soehandoyo
had said Sofyan allegedly received US$16 million from PT Bank
Negara Indonesia (BNI) 1946, Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) and Bank
Bumi Daya (BBD).

Todung also said that his client could not be named a suspect
because he was not on the board of directors of several companies
related to the case. He said Sofyan was a commissioner, while the
civil law stipulates that it is the board of directors that bear
responsibility for legal matters.

By naming Sofyan, the owner of the Gemala Group conglomerate,
as a suspect, the Attorney General was treating him as a suspect
in a criminal case, Todung said.

Todung added that Sofyan could not be summoned because of poor
health. He showed a statement dated Feb. 15 from his client's
physician, saying Sofyan is being treated at a clinic in
Minnesota, United States, for chest pains among other things. The
statement said treatment would take three or four months.

The Attorney General has summoned Sofyan three times, on Oct.
23 and Nov. 20 last year, and Jan. 5 this year, in his capacity
as owner of the Gemala Group. Todung said at that time his client
was already undergoing treatment overseas. (01)