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)