Two executives tried for swindling

JAKARTA (JP): Two executives of a private company were indicted at the West Jakarta District Court on Wednesday for swindling US$688,337 from privately run Bank Prima Express.

Prosecutor Deddy S. Harahap said in his indictment that the defendants, identified as Tansri Benui alias Tan Beng Hoei, the chief commissioner of CV Wira Mustika Indah, and Soesanto Leo, the firm's president, conducted the crime in October 1997.

Harahap said the defendants told the bank that CV Wira planned to import 700 tons of steel from Europe through the firm's subsidiary Tri Niaga Enterprise which was based in Singapore.

He said CV Wira asked the bank to transfer the amount of $688,337 for the payment of the steel to Tri Niaga through ING Bank Singapore.

Bank Prima Express transferred the money after CV Wira showed completed documents which stated that the firm imported the steel through Tri Niaga, he said.

The documents also stated MV Gang Qiang ship arrived at the Tanjung Priok harbor in North Jakarta to unload the steel, he said.

The problem arose, however, when the bank asked CV Wira twice to repay the money, but the firm did not give any responses, he said.

"When the bank checked at the Tanjung Priok harbor, it found no ship named MV Gang Qiang arrived there," he said.

Harahap charged the defendants under Article 378 of the Criminal Code on swindling, which carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison.

In response to the indictment, the defendants' lawyer, Alamsyah Hanafiah, asked the court to drop the case as, according to him, it was a civil case.

"The court also has no authority to handle the case since the dispute happened at the harbor. So the North Jakarta District Court should examine the case," Alamsyah said. (jun)