Two officials may be questioned on 'arisan'
Two officials may be questioned on 'arisan'
JAKARTA (JP): National police are considering questioning two officials of the City Trade Office in relation to the investigation of the controversial Danasonic arisan savings chain scheme.
"It's not impossible for us to question the city trade officials, in connection to the issuance of license permits provided to the company, because we found something strange in the documents," National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. IK Ratta told reporters yesterday.
According to Sindi Husain, commissioner of PT Saptamitra Ekakarya, which runs the business, the company operated with trading permits issued by the trade office and its South Jakarta's chapter.
But Ratta said that the police have found strong indication that the operator of the Danasonic scheme abused the permits.
"We'll tell the details when we have completed our investigation," the spokesman said, hoping that the public cooperates in helping to stop the distribution of the forms.
The trading permits issued for PT Saptamitra Ekakarya were given to two different persons, respectively Martini Yuanita Ampera Putri and Sindi's wife, Aneke Kolondam, who is president of the firm.
All of the permits are licensed for internal trade business and export-import business.
The first permit number 3852/09-01/PB/XI/92, given to Martini, a resident of Jl. Borobudur 5 in Pegangsaan, Central Jakarta, was approved by the head of the city trade office Hamonangan Pane on Nov. 13, 1992.
The second permit number 4522/3852-P/09-04/PB/I/94, given to Aneke Kolondam, was also approved by Hamonangan Pane in January in 1994.
The third license number 0639/09-04/PM/VIII/94, given again to Aneke, was approved by head of the South Jakarta trade office, Husein Effendi.
Normally, a company is provided only with one trading license.
"Wait until we complete our findings," Ratta promised, but did not mention when the two officers would be questioned.
The Danasonic business has been under police investigation following findings that its arisan savings chain scheme has caused great losses to the public.
Arisan is actually a periodic gathering to draw lots for an aggregate sum of money contributed by the members.
Unlike the traditional system, the Danasonic arisan chain savings scheme requires its new member to pay Rp 11,000 (US$4.95) to the organizer and Rp 10,000 each to two earlier participants listed on a coupon.
In return, he or she can receive a larger amount up to over Rp 10 million if they can actively sell the coupons to other active newcomers. (bsr)