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Sofjan was barred from leaving the country in connection with his role in the bank, but the ban was been revoked since Aug. 14 by Bambang himself, Todung said.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