Official testifies in fake reclamation paper case

Official testifies in fake reclamation paper case

JAKARTA (JP): A West Jakarta Environment Board official told
the South Jakarta District Court yesterday that because he
suspected foul play in a land reclamation project last year, he
refused to issue a license to a private company.

The official was testifying at the trial of four engineering
consultants, who were charged with forging a hydraulic analysis
originally made by PT Sac Nusantara.

The forged document was later used by PT Kharisma Wira Perkasa
to apply for a city license to begin reclamation work in the
Pluit area, where the first company, PT Sac, also plans to carry
out the same activity.

According to earlier testimonies, PT Sac had submitted the
same analysis to the Agency several months before.

Darundono, yesterday's witness, added that when he received PT
Kharisma's application, he noticed that the hydraulic concept for
the reclamation was also similar to the previous one submitted by
PT Sac.

He reported his suspicion to his superior, who later decided
that the City Environmental Agency would not process the
application before the case was made clear.

According to the indictment, the four defendants forged the
document under the instructions of PT Kharisma.

PT Sac claims that it suffered Rp 800 million (US$360,000) in
damages due to the postponement of its project, which cannot
begin until the court delivers its verdict.

Meanwhile, three PT Kharisma employees, responsible for hiring
the consultants, are now being tried in a separate trial at the
Central Jakarta district Court on charges of collusion. (03)