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)