Military questions tycoon over swindle

JAKARTA (JP): A real estate tycoon has been questioned by the Jakarta Internal Security Agency for allegedly building condominiums on state land, incurring a massive financial loss on the government.

Spokesman for the Jakarta Military Command, Lt. Col. D.J. Nachrowi, identified the suspect over the weekend as 38-year-old Seno Margono, alias Tjiang Tjek Seng, a director at various real estate companies.

Nachrowi declined to name the companies but did say PT Duta Adi Putra was one, and that one of the disputed buildings was in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

"We suspect that Seno illegally appropriated state assets," he said, adding that Seno might have colluded with corrupt officials.

Nachrowi said the authorities were still calculating the value of the state land Seno allegedly appropriated.

Seno was questioned from March 28 through March 30 at Jakarta Military Police Headquarters, South Jakarta.

Asked why the case was being handled by the military instead of the police, as is normally the case, Nachrowi said it was because the case was referred to the security agency.

"Moreover, the police is also represented in the agency," he said.

The authorities will also investigate government officials who allegedly collaborating with Seno in the manipulation of state assets, he said.

"We have handed over Seno's case to the Attorney General for further investigation on April 31," he said.

Nachrowi said that Seno is a son-in-law of businessman Hendra Rahardja, brother of the notorious fugitive Eddy Tanzil, the petrochemical businessman who escaped from jail two years ago. Tanzil was sentenced to 20 years in jail for defrauding Bapindo Bank of US$620 million. He is still on the loose. (09)