Prosecutors insist they have a strong case against Tansil
Prosecutors insist they have a strong case against Tansil
JAKARTA (JP): Government prosecutors, whose case against Eddy
Tansil was torn apart by the defense last Saturday, insisted
yesterday that the charges against the businessman will stand.
The prosecutors urged the Central Jakarta District Court to
ignore arguments that Tansil should be tried for a civil offense
for his involvement in the US$449 million lending fraud at the
government-owned Bank Pembangunan Indonesia (Bapindo).
"Under Indonesian law, a court may try both civil and criminal
cases at the same time," said Lukman Bachmid, who leads the
prosecution team.
"We will see through this court whether the defendant's
actions could be classified as criminal acts or not," he said.
Tansil, the main suspect in the Rp 1.3 trillion ($620 million)
loan scandal at Bapindo, was once again the target of hostility
from the public gallery yesterday.
"Hang him," shouted one man from the back towards the end of
the hearing. "He's PKI," shouted another, referring to the now
outlawed Indonesian Communist Party.
This was the third court appearance by the defendant, who came
yesterday wearing a gray batik shirt. The trial continued to
attract huge public interest with the court room again completely
packed.
Tansil along with other directors of his Golden Key Group of
companies is accused of colluding with Bapindo executives to
illegally obtain $420 credit from the bank.
He is being charged with the 1971 anti-corruption law, an
offense that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
One Bapindo executive is already on trial also on corruption
charges and at least four other Bapindo executives will be
brought to trial soon.
Tansil's lawyer, Gani Djemat, in his defense said the case as
presented by the prosecutors was about the relationship between a
creditor and a debtor and that any violation should be dealt with
in accordance with the terms of loan agreements.
Legitimate
Lukman also defended the prosecutions dossier against Tansil,
styled by the defense as "vague," and defended the alterations he
made to the dossier as permissible by law.
He also stated that the Central Jakarta District Court has the
authority to try the case since Tansil controlled the Golden Key
Group from an office on Jl. Pecenongan in Central Jakarta, which
is under the jurisdiction of the court.
Gani had argued that since most of the crimes which his client
is accused of took place at a Bapindo branch office in South
Jakarta, the prosecutors have picked wrong court.
Presiding Judge Soetrisno adjourned the session until
Thursday, when defense lawyer Gani Djemat will present his final
response to the court before it makes a decision on whether or
not the trial should proceed with testimony.
The trial is expected to bring more than 60 witnesses and
could last up to five months.
Sudomo, the chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council, who
introduced Tansil to Bapindo in 1989, has been listed as the 52nd
witness. It is not clear, however, whether he will be summoned to
testify because he has already given a deposition to the Attorney
General.(05)