Sofjan demands apology from former minister

Sofjan demands apology from former minister

JAKARTA (JP): Businessman Sofjan Wanandi of the Gemala Group
has demanded that former finance minister Bambang Sudibyo
apologize for publicly accusing him of embezzling Bank Indonesia
funds.

"Bambang Sudibyo has to apologize and clarify his statements
in public within seven days regarding his misleading, insinuative
and prejudicial statements which discredited our client," lawyer
Todung Mulya Lubis said in his office.

Unless the demand was met, Todung said he would file a lawsuit
against Bambang on charges of libel.

The offending remarks, published in the Kompas and Republika
daily newspapers on Tuesday, were based on statements Bambang was
reported to have made when he handed over his post to his
successor, Prijadi Praptosuhardjo, on Monday.

Bambang singled out Sofjan and another businessman, Samsul
Nursalim, among those he said should be barred from leaving the
country because of their alleged role in the embezzlement of the
Bank Indonesia liquidity loans.

The Attorney General's Office is currently studying a request
from the Ministry of Finance to impose travel bans on former
owners and managers of 42 commercial banks in connection with its
investigations into the reported embezzlement of Rp 144.5
trillion (US$17.41 billion) of central bank liquidity credits.

Bambang, who sent the list of bankers to the Attorney
General's Office, blurted out Sofjan and Samsul's names when
reporters pressed him to identify people on the list.

Sofjan's name came up in his capacity as chief commissioner of
Bank Dana Hutama, which was closed down by the government.

Todung said Sofjan had completed all his financial
obligations, amounting to Rp 1.294 billion ($156,000), to the
Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA).

Sofjan was barred from leaving the country in connection with
his role in the bank, but the ban was been revoked since Aug. 14
by Bambang himself, Todung said. (01)