Ten people under travel ban in bank fraud case

Ten people under travel ban in bank fraud case

JAKARTA (JP): The city authorities have banned 10 people from
leaving the city in connection with the fraud involving millions
of dollars at the local branch office of HongkongBank.

A reliable police source said on Saturday that some executives
of the bank and two staff members of Modern Bank and Unibank are
among the 10 people.

The source, who asked to remain anonymous, refused to reveal
the names of the people facing the travel ban.

In a related development, another source said on Saturday that
police apprehended the key suspect in the fraud, identified as
Hdr, the holder of a Philippine passport. He was caught in a raid
in Bogor, about 55 kilometers south of here, on Friday evening.

City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna could not be
reached over the weekend for confirmation.

Police sources said earlier that Hdr, believed to have had
several different passports, was believed to have already left
the country. Police had given his picture to airport authorities
nationwide and asked them to prevent him from leaving the
country.

A man identified as HW, who was believed to have connections
with Hdr, was arrested by city police detectives on Wednesday for
his alleged role in the fraud.

Police learned of the fraud from a report made by the
management of HongkongBank's branch office here on Jan. 5. They
considered the report late because Hdr had allegedly withdrawn a
total of Rp 78 billion (US$34.3 million) from Modern Bank
headquarters in Central Jakarta on Dec. 21 and 22.

According to HongkongBank's public relations manager, Leila
Djafaar, the fraud, which is under the investigation of both the
police and Bank Indonesia, the central bank, occurred early this
month.

Earlier reports said the fraud occurred through a bogus
transaction via facsimile orders, which instructed HongkongBank
to transfer Rp 97 billion to three private banks in Jakarta.

Based on the report, city detectives from the economic crime
section, started their investigation.

The police nabbed HW while he was trying to withdraw the
remaining Rp 19 billion from Unibank on Jan. 10.

During police questioning, HW said someone, whom he refused to
identify, had instructed him to withdraw the money.

Police spokesman Iman told reporters on Friday that he could
not release any further information in order to protect the
ongoing police investigation.

"We need a lot of funds to carry out this investigation,
that's why I'll only tell the details after we have completed the
probe," Iman said.

Indonesian police have long complained about the complicated
banking procedures here, which hinder investigations of white
collar crime.

"The fraud at the HongkongBank, which involved around Rp 100
billion, can be solved only if the owners and top managers of the
related banks show their willingness to help us," said a senior
detective.

Spokesperson Leila ensured that the bank remains in sound
condition.

As of last June, HongkongBank Indonesia, which has five
branches outside of Jakarta, registered total assets of Rp 2.05
trillion (US$893 million at the current rate), up from Rp 1.4
trillion in June 1994. (bsr)