Sjahril tells court Marzuki pressured him to resign

JAKARTA (JP): Inactive Bank Indonesia governor Sjahril Sabirin accused Attorney General Marzuki Darusman on Thursday of pressuring him to either resign as BI governor or be declared a suspect in the high-profile Bank Bali scandal.

"I was really pressured. Whatever is in the taped conversations between myself and the attorney general, it's all true," Sjahril said during a hearing at the South Jakarta District Court presided over by judge Rusmandani.

"I just could not resign," he added.

The hearing was held to allow Sjahril, who is currently being held at the Attorney General's Office as a suspect in the Bank Bali case, to give testimony in the lawsuit he brought against the attorney general for wrongful detention.

Sjahril's lawyers, led by Mohammad Assegaf, presented the judge transcripts of three taped conversations between Marzuki and their client dated March 1, March 2 and May 29. The lawyers said the transcripts showed Sjahril was given two choices: resign or be declared a suspect in the Bank Bali case.

Rusmandani, however, ordered the tapes not be played in the courtroom, only allowing transcripts of the conversations to be read.

The following are excerpts from the transcripts:

Sjahril: "What I regret is that it has come to this. There are so many people who have committed greater crimes, and I feel I have done nothing wrong at all in this Bank Bali case.

"I feel this (choice) is being given to me to get me out of Bank Indonesia."

Marzuki: "That is just your subjective view, Pak."

Sjahril: "A lot of people will see it my way, Pak Marzuki."

Marzuki: "I am concerned with protecting public trust and public interest. I really regret the fact that right now Bapak is only bothered about yourself and not Indonesia."

Sjahril: "It is really not that way, Pak Marzuki. I think ..."

Marzuki: "I have to say this, Pak. I really ... I have been really stopping myself from giving my personal opinion on this, but if this is the way, then all I can say is that the majority of the Indonesian people will see it the way I see it, Pak."

Sjahril: "I believe that a person will see what is right eventually."

Marzuki: "What is right is that Bapak has committed something that qualifies as a crime. That's what will be seen by the public."

Sjahril: "I am being forced to testify ... and the situation ... the testimony will be given in such a terrified state ... it will be my first time. What I say could be challenged by another person in court. That is not fair at all."

Marzuki: "Yes, you should have thought of the consequences before, Pak. Six months ago I warned you."

Sjahril: "Then I told you I am innocent in the Bank Bali case, which was why I felt I did not need to resign my position."

Marzuki: "I repeat again to confirm that Bapak has decided that you will not resign and as a consequence, whatever happens next will be in accordance to the President's decision."

Sjahril: "I will not, and will never resign in this pressured state."

Also during the hearing on Thursday, Assegaf said two witnesses -- Todung Mulya Lubis and Bank Indonesia deputy governor Soebardjo Djoyosumarto -- who were supposed to appear in court to give testimony for the defendant refused to appear.

"He (Todung) wants an official letter from the court summoning him. The other witness, Soebardjo Djoyosumarto, is currently in Malaysia," Assegaf said.

Rusmandani adjourned the hearing until Monday, when the judges are expected to give their verdict.

Sjahril filed the lawsuit against Marzuki for wrongfully detaining him for his alleged role in the Bank Bali corruption scandal.

Assegaf told the South Jakarta District Court on Tuesday the detention of his client since June 21 was unwarranted.

"The entire time Pak Sjahril has been in detention, he has only been questioned twice. Where is the reason to detain him?" Assegaf asked.

Marzuki, who was not present at the hearing on Tuesday, has said he followed all existing legal procedures and that Sjahril was detained as a suspect to facilitate a fair investigation.

In a related story, a prosecutor recently demanded an 18 month jail term for Djoko S. Tjandra, the primary defendant in the Bank Bali scandal.

The verdict in Djoko's case also is scheduled to be handed down on Monday.

The Bank Bali scandal began when three private banks failed to repay Rp 904 billion in debts to Bank Bali, with the debts remaining outstanding when the three banks were closed down in late 1998.

Bank Bali then paid Rp 546 billion (US$78 million) to private firm PT Era Giat Prima to recoup the loans, which was unnecessary because the debts were guaranteed by the government. (ylt)