Prosecutors wants 3 years jail for prison guard

JAKARTA (JP): A state prosecutor asked the East Jakarta District Court yesterday to sentence a senior prison guard to three years jail for his role in businessman Eddy Tansil's escape in May.

Prosecutor Muchtar Kunda said Dulhadi, alias Dudung, 44, was guilty of taking a Rp 2 millions (US$835) bribe from Eddy Tansil to help him escape from Cipinang Prison.

Tansil, the owner of the Golden Key Group, was serving 20 years jail for swindling Rp 1.3 trillion (US$620 million) from the state-owned Bank Pembangunan Indonesia.

According to earlier testimony Tansil asked Dudung to get him out of prison on May 4, two days before a scheduled checkup at a local hospital for a heart condition.

The defendant agreed and eight subordinates helped him.

In a previous hearing, Dudung, commandant of the third group of prison guards responsible for Tansil, admitted getting the money and distributing it to eight subordinates. He said each got Rp 100,000 and he kept Rp 200,000.

Dudung said he gave Rp 1 million to Tomy Arifin Hutapea, commandant of the first group of guards, who were also responsible for Tansil.

But Hutapea has told the court he did not accept the bribe.

One of Dudung's subordinates has been sentenced to two years jail while three others got eight months jail.

The trial was adjourned until Wednesday to hear the defense statement.

Tansil's scandal was Indonesia's biggest bank fraud. It involved four Bapindo directors and a deputy branch manager.

The Central Jakarta District Court jailed Tansil for 17 years but when Tansil appealed to the High Court the sentence was increased to 20 years. The Supreme Court confirmed this sentence.

Besides the jail term Tansil was ordered to pay Rp 500 billion in restitution to the government and fined Rp 30 million.

Tansil is believed to have fled the country. (05)