Police summon three Peruri directors as suspects in graft case
Abdul Khalik The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Jakarta Police are moving ahead with the investigation into the alleged embezzlement of Rp 2.3 billion (US$242 million) at state banknote printing company Peruri after declaring its president director and two subordinates suspects on Friday.
Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said on Sunday that the police summoned president director M. Koesman Martono, logistics director Marlan Arif and marketing director Suparman for questioning on Monday.
"We expect them to heed the summonses as suspects for allegedly embezzling the company's money," Tjiptono told The Jakarta Post.
Tjiptono revealed that the alleged embezzled money was part of the company's Rp 5.9 billion profit for the 1999-2000 period.
Marlan Arif allegedly withdrew Rp 4.175 billion in July 2000 to be distributed to employees while the remaining Rp 1.7 billion, upon the order of then managing director Suparman, was subsequently allocated as operational funds for directors.
The Rp 1.7 billion was deposited in a bank, and for three years it grew to Rp 2.3 billion due to interest paid on the principal.
Koesnan instructed in 2004 that the money be channeled to the company's "extended family" as social and education funds.
"Part of the money was said to be used to build a mosque and a school, but during our investigation we found no buildings were constructed," Tjiptono said.
He explained that the police would charge the suspects under Law No. 28/1999 on corruption, which carries a maximum punishment of 12 years in prison, as well as articles 372 and 374 of the Criminal Code on embezzlement, which stipulates a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Tjiptono said that if the three suspects did not appear for questioning on Monday, the police would immediately issue another summons for each suspect.
According to the law, a suspect has three opportunities to comply with a police summons before being forced to appear at a police station for questioning.
Tjiptono said it was possible that the three suspects would be detained after questioning.
"If we suspect they may run away or destroy evidence then we will detain them as soon as possible. By law we have the right to detain a suspect if the suspect is charged for a violation that carries a punishment of five years' imprisonment," he said.
Three criminal cases at Peruri have been reported this year alone.
A Peruri employee identified as Mulyono, who worked for the company for 20 years, was arrested by the police in February for allegedly stealing thousands of banknotes worth billions of rupiah over several years. Police are still gathering evidence to complete the case file.
Earlier this year, several Peruri employees were named suspects for cooperating with outsiders to produce and circulate counterfeit banknotes.