Sofyan is 'no longer in hospital'

JAKARTA (JP): Sofyan Wanandi, a businessman implicated in a bank credit scam here, is no longer being treated in a clinic in the United States, the Attorney General's Office said on Wednesday as reported by Antara.

A lawyer for the head of the Gemala business group, Todung Mulya Lubis, said on Tuesday that Sofyan could not be summoned regarding the case because of his poor health.

"It's true that Sofyan Wanandi was once treated in the clinic... but according to the clinic, he's no longer staying there," Attorney General's Office spokesman Soehandoyo said on Wednesday.

A written statement dated Feb. 15 from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota said his treatment would take three to four months.

Soehandoyo said he hoped Sofyan would be willing to comply with the office's summons for questioning.

Sofyan is alleged to have received a total of US$16 million from Bank Bumi Daya, Bank Rakyat Indonesia and PT Bank Negara Indonesia 1946, all government banks.

Three letters of summons have been mailed to Sofyan since October last year, Soehandoyo added.

The last summons was sent on Jan. 5. Todung said at the time of the first summons that Sofyan was seeking medical treatment overseas.

"If the suspect does not intend to meet the office's summons, we will ask for Interpol's help," Soehandoyo said.

On Tuesday Todung said his client should not be named a suspect, as had been announced by the Attorney General's Office. He said Sofyan was not on the boards of directors of the companies involved, adding that in such cases it is the board which has legal responsibility.

Antara reported that the office set up an investigation team for the case, comprising seven prosecutors led by Sudibyo Saleh, chief of the Attorney General's intelligence operations.

Commenting on Todung's remarks, Soehandoyo said, "If he's not guilty, Sofyan should have come to clarify this case." (edt)