Sudjiono denies corruption charges

Sudjiono denies corruption charges

JAKARTA: A former president director of state-owned company
PT Bahana Pembinaan Usaha Indonesia (PBUI) denied on Wednesday
charges that he misused US$240.9 million in state funds.

Defendant Sudjiono Timan, 42, maintained his innocence during
his trial at the South Jakarta District Court.

"It was the board of directors, not me, who permitted the
disbursement of loans to the debtors," he said during the six-
hour hearing, which was presided over by judge IDG Putra Jadnya.

Sudjiono has been charged under several articles of the
anticorruption law, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in
prison.

According to state prosecutors, during Sudjiono's term as
president director from 1993 to 2001, PT BPUI disbursed $240.9
million to several companies that did not qualify for the loans.

The companies included Asia Finance Limited and Festival
Company Inc., which are owned Sudjiono associates Agus Anwar and
Prajogo Pangestu, respectively.

Prosecutors also said Sudjiono approved the disbursement of Rp
263 billion from PT BPUI's investment fund account to both
companies, as well as PT Penta Investment Limited.

PT BPUI is under the central bank and is responsible for
channeling funds to small and medium-size companies. -- JP