Nirwan told to meet summons

JAKARTA: East Jakarta Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Sjafruddin warned Nirwan Dermawan Bakrie, the commissioner of Bakrie Capital Indonesia (BCI), not to ignore a summons to appear as a witness in a case involving BCI subsidiary Berita Buana daily.

The case centers around the alleged misuse of eight months of pay meant for the daily's employees.

"No more excuses. He has to appear at the police station for questioning," Sjafruddin was quoted as saying by Antara on Tuesday.

Nirwan failed to answer the first summons because he was undergoing an appendectomy in Singapore. The police sent a second summons when they were informed that Nirwan had returned to Indonesia on June 8. However, they were later told that Nirwan had already left for the United States.

In addition to filing a police report about the alleged misuse of the money, the paper's workers are also suing PT Berita Media Buana Pers director Rahim Soekasah and Bakrie for not paying them their salaries since October 2003. A hearing of the suits is expected to begin on June 30. -- Antara