Sjahril verdict expected Wednesday

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