Military questions tycoon over swindle

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)