Treasury head of BI unaware of fake transfer

JAKARTA (JP): The head of Bank Indonesia's treasury division, testifying in the trial of two men charged with defrauding the bank of Rp 7 billion (US$2.9 million), told the Central Jakarta District Court yesterday that he was unaware of any fictitious transfers until a month after they occurred.

The witness, Hardjanto, said he was told about the irregularities on Aug. 14.

He said he then checked documents and found a transfer form which had not been processed according to bank procedure. He then reported it to the bank's internal investigation section.

"The receipt signed by the official at the receiving section was not attached at the transfer form," he said.

Two former Bank Indonesia employees, Nasran Amar and Ayub Sutarya are on trial over the incident.

The prosecution said the defendants helped one of Hardjanto's staff, Naman Kawi, commit the fraud. Naman has been tried separately.

Nasran was accused of helping Naman, the head of the cashier section, to find someone with an account at the bank who could be used as a money receiver.

Ayub was charged with giving his password to Naman so he could enter fake data into the bank's computer.

The prosecution said Naman filled out a form on July 8, stating that PT Aseam, which had an account, had received a transfer of Rp 7 billion. The form was signed by Dahlan, a fake name.

Naman and four other defendants allegedly shared the money after withdrawing it from PT Aseam's account on July 11.

Hardjanto said that he checked the bank's cash balance every afternoon but found everything all right.

The prosecution said Naman wrote a letter saying the bank's office on Jl. M.H. Thamrin sent Rp 7 billion to its downtown branch office, in order to keep the cash balance.

In the previous session, a Bank Indonesia accountant said there was no obligation to cross examine the cashier and accounting section when transfers were made. (13)