SBU executives go on trial for graft
SBU executives go on trial for graft
JAKARTA (JP): Two executives of private PT Sejahtera Bank Umum
(SBU) were indicted at the Central Jakarta District Court on
Tuesday for their alleged role in a Rp 209 billion and US$105
million scandal in two toll-road projects here.
Prosecutor Arminsyah said the defendants, identified as bank
president Lesmana Basuki and operations director Tony Suherman,
committed their crimes between May 1994 and last February.
"The defendants caused state losses of Rp 209 billion and
US$105 million," Arminsyah said.
He said the two, together with five accomplices -- three of
whom work for other institutions -- were involved in swindling
funds allocated for the construction of the Tanjung Priok-
Jembatan Tiga-Pluit toll road and the southern section of Pondok
Pinang-Jagorawi toll road.
The scam, he said, was committed by the two defendants and
their five accomplices by issuing commercial papers which were
later endorsed by state-owned construction firm PT Hutama Karya
to raise funds to continue the projects.
The prosecutor identified the five as SBU shareholders Tony
Basuki and Ratnawati Pola; Hutama executives Thamrin Tanjung and
Tjokorda Raka Sukowati; and businessman Djoko Ramiadji.
The total value of the commercial papers issued by the men,
Arminsyah said, was actually Rp 1.04 trillion and US$471 million.
The bank which arranged the issuance of the commercial papers
received fees of between Rp 25 billion and Rp 11 billion, he
said.
The money raised from the issuance of the papers was then kept
in the bank's account at its Hayam Wuruk branch instead of being
kept in Hutama Karya's account, the prosecutor said.
The amount was then handed over to several individuals and
companies without Hutama Karya's authorization, Arminsyah said.
Ramiadji, for example, received Rp 130 billion, Thamrin Rp 161
billion, Tjokorda Rp 550 million, Tony Basuki and Ratnawati Rp 60
billion, he said.
The prosecutor did not name the companies.
Thamrin and Tjokorda are being tried by the same court on the
same charges. Their trial began several weeks ago.
The construction of the Tanjung Priok-Jembatan Tiga-Pluit toll
road was reportedly supposed to be financed by PT Citra Marga
Nusaphala Persada (CMNP), not by Hutama Karya.
CMNP is a toll-road construction company controlled by the
eldest daughter of former president Soeharto, Siti "Tutut"
Hardijanti Rukmana.
The construction of the Pondok Pinang-Jagorawi southern
section was supposed to be financed by PT Marga Nurindo Bhakti, a
company partly owned Djoko.
Prosecutor Arminsyah charged the defendants under Article 1
(1) of Law No. 3/1971 on corruption which carries a maximum
penalty of a life sentence and/or a fine of Rp 30 million.
Presiding judge Djafni Djamal adjourned the trial until next
week to hear the defendants' defense statements.
Suherman's lawyer, Frans H. Winarta, said his client had been
detained since July 15, while Lesmana, Tjokorda and Thamrin were
released on bail of Rp 500 million each.
"We are reviewing collusion practices here. My client doesn't
have that much money," Frans said outside the court.
He said Suherman was just a worker at the bank while the
masterminds of the case were Lesmana Basuki, his son Tony Basuki
and Tony Basuki's wife Ratnawati Pola. (jun)