Sofjan denies travel ban still remains in effect

Sofjan denies travel ban still remains in effect

JAKARTA (JP): Businessman Sofjan Wanandi refuted reports on
Monday that he was banned from overseas travel, saying he had
received permission to travel from President Abdurrahman Wahid
himself.

According to Sofjan, the ban imposed through a finance
ministry decree was a "technical problem" which had been cleared
up.

Sofjan said he would soon be going to the United States to
prepare for the President's visit there.

"I must go to the U.S. for a medical check-up and to prepare
Gus Dur's meeting with several congress members," Sofjan said
after attending a weekly economics meeting at Bina Graha
presidential office.

"The President has given his approval."

Minister of Finance Bambang Sudibyo in Decree No. 142 dated
May 15, slapped a six-month travel ban on 125 businesspeople
connected with liquidated banks.

Sofjan was blacklisted in his capacity as president
commissioner of the liquidated Bank Danahutama.

But Sofjan maintains that the decree had already been
discussed in Cabinet on May 17, which decided to ease the travel
ban for cooperative bankers.

The Cabinet decided to allow the 125 business people to go
abroad as long as they can provide a written guarantee from their
lawyers, Sofjan said.

Sofjan has played an increasing role in the government through
his capacity as chairman of the National Business Development
Council.

He acknowledged on Friday that he still has a debt to the
government of about Rp 5 billion, but insisted that he could not
fully repay the money because other Danahutama shareholders,
notably businessman The Ning King and the Bank BBD Foundation,
had not repaid their obligations.

When asked what the President said about the matter, Sofjan
replied: "He just laughed, and asked me to pay my debts".
(prb/cst)