Sjahril verdict expected Wednesday

JAKARTA: The Central Jakarta District Court is expected to deliver a verdict in the case of Central Bank Governor Sjahril Sabirin on Wednesday.

The state prosecutor earlier demanded the court sentence Sjahril to four years in jail for his alleged involvement in the 1999 Bank Bali scandal, which caused the government losses of Rp 904 billion (US$88.63 million).

According to the prosecutor, Sjahril abused his power by approving the disbursement of Rp 904 billion of Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) funds to Bank Bali. Bank Bali claimed the money was loaned to several smaller banks, which failed to pay their debts.

The scandal has drawn much public attention because of the powerful names connected to it. These include former minister of investment and state enterprises and development Tanri Abeng, former Supreme Council chairman Achmad Arnold Baramuli and Golkar treasurer and former IBRA deputy chairman Pande Nasoroha Lubis. -- JP