Police deny BNI suspects have fled the country

Police deny BNI suspects have fled the country

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Police denied on Sunday allegations that some of those involved
in a financial scandal involving state-owned Bank Negara
Indonesia (BNI) had fled the country.

"Who says they (the suspects) have fled the country? They are
still here and we are continuing to investigate the case," Basyir
told The Jakarta Post.

He also stressed that police were still questioning two
detained suspects and were "seeking more information from other
witnesses".

"So far we have detained two suspects and are still working
the case. That's all I can say," Basyir said when asked to
comment on news reports that some of those involved in the Rp 1.7
trillion (US$200 million) scam had escaped from the country.

The scandal revolves around the questionable issuance of 41
letters of credit totaling Rp 1.7 trillion by BNI Kebayoran Baru
branch in South Jakarta.

Police investigators said over the weekend that they had
detained two high-ranking BNI officers in October and barred six
others, including two alleged end-users of the letters of credit,
from traveling overseas.

The two detained were identified as Edy Santoso, BNI's head of
foreign services, and Koesadiyuwono, BNI Kebayoran Baru branch
manager.

Police are also questioning five witnesses identified only as
Sy, Dk, Sw, Ew and Ah.

BNI President Director Syaifuddien Hassan was quoted as saying
in Surakarta, Central Java over the weekend that some suspects
had gone overseas, and blamed it on the disclosure of the case.

Syaifuddien did not reveal the source of his information or
identify those who have already left the country.

Koran Tempo daily quoted Director General for Immigration
Santoso as saying over the weekend that he had heard that some of
those involved in the scandal had left the country.

"I heard some (of those involved in the scam) had left the
country even before the temporary 14-day travel ban was imposed,"
Santoso was quoted as saying.

Before the case came to the surface last week, police had
reportedly asked the immigration office on Oct. 8 to slap a
temporary two-week travel ban on those suspected of playing a
role or having knowledge about the scandal.

According to Syaifuddien, the scandal, which possibly caused
trillions in state loses, took place due to a conspiracy
involving insiders.

He said he had already dismissed several staff members at BNI
Kebayoran Baru branch and other branches believed to be involved
in the case.

Syaifuddien denied responsibility for the scam, saying that
BNI's board of directors had never acknowledged the disbursements
of export credit from several BNI branch offices in Kenya,
Switzerland, and Cook Island to some local businessmen in
Indonesia.