Man tried in a Rp 769m swindle case

A fifty-three-year old man is being tried by the South Jakarta District Court on charges of swindling Rp 769.5 million (US$355,000) from a local businessman.

Prosecutor Darwis Lubay said in a court session Monday that the defendant, John, caused Junaldi Hadi to lose Rp 769.5 million in cash and property.

According to the prosecution, the defendant told Junaldi that he could postpone the confiscation of his house being used as collateral for a Rp 803.5 million loan he obtained from Citibank, which was already due.

To postpone the payment of the loan, and the confiscation of his house, Junaldi paid Rp 769.5 million to John from June 1992 to January last year, according to the prosecution as quoted by Antara.

The money was paid at the Pondok Indah Mall shopping center in South Jakarta, said Darwis.

Despite the payment, Junaldi found he still had to pay his Rp 803.5 million loan to Citibank, said the prosecutor.

He added that the defendant became acquainted with Junaldi through his accomplices, PN and Yan, who are being tried separately.

Darwis added that the defendant received the announcement for the confiscation of Junaldi's house on Jl. Sam Ratulangi, Central Jakarta, on July 19 last year. According to the letter, it was to be held on Aug. 23.

The house was eventually auctioned for Rp 815 million on Oct. 6, said Darwis.

The trial session, led by judge Mugihardjo, was adjourned until Aug. 1 to hear the defendant's statement. (lem)