Savings chain scheme still under investigation

Savings chain scheme still under investigation

JAKARTA (JP): Despite growing concern from the public, police
have yet to take action against the operation of the
controversial Danasonic arisan savings chain scheme.

"We hope that the public can be a little bit patient because
we're still studying the case in depth," National Police Chief
Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro told reporters yesterday.

He said police are still studying whether the operators of the
scheme can be charged with fraud, embezzlement, operating an
illegal bank or with forgery.

The police still need more time to collect more information
before making a final decision, he said.

Arisan is actually a periodic gathering to draw lots for an
aggregate sum of money contributed by the members.

Unlike the traditional arisan system, the Danasonic arisan
chain savings scheme, run by Jakarta-based PT Saptamitra
Ekakarya, requires new members to pay Rp 11,000 (US$4.95) to the
organizer and Rp 10,000 each to two other participants listed on
a coupon.

In return, he or she can receive up to Rp 10 million if they
can actively sell coupons to other newcomers who become active.

With its headquarters on Jl. Raya Pasar Minggu in South
Jakarta, PT Saptamitra Ekakarya, which began operating three
years ago, is run by an elderly couple, Sindi Husain and his wife
Anneke Kolondam, respectively commissioner and president of the
firm.

So far, executives of the firm claimed that the number of its
members has reached around 500,000 people nationwide, while
police estimate the number to be about 10 million.

The participants of the arisan are of varied education and
skill backgrounds, including university students, bankers,
farmers and journalists.

When asked to comment on the ongoing police investigation into
the scheme, Sindi Husain said: "We're ready at anytime to be
questioned and will be pleased if the police can decide as soon
as possible what specific rules we have violated."

"If we're in the wrong, police can arrest us at anytime at our
office here and seize all material evidence available," Sindi
challenged.

City Police spokesman Lt. Col. Bambang Haryoko said yesterday
that the city office for trade affairs might soon withdraw the
trading license of the company.

Although the police have not received any complaints from
participants of the scheme, they claim there is strong indication
that executives of the scheme only wanted to cheat people through
such an attractive, promising game.

Based on their findings, city police then decided to
investigate the arisan savings chain scheme three months ago in
an effort to learn of any losses suffered by people taking part
in the arisan. They also froze the funds sent by new members of
the scheme to PT Saptamitra Ekakarya at several banks and post
offices.(bsr)