Dian Kuswandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 10/28/2008 10:30 AM | National
Former Bank Indonesia top officials Oey Hoey Tiong and Rusli Simanjuntak each face six years in prison for their alleged involvement in the embezzlement of Rp 100 billion (US$10 million) from the central bank.
Prosecutors demanded Monday that the Corruption Court jail the two defendants for six years and fine them Rp 250 million each, adding that failure to pay the fees should result in eight-month extensions of their prison sentences.
Rusli, in particular, should also return the Rp 3 billion he received from the fund, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors said.
They said the defendants were guilty of fraud with an intent to enrich others.
"The defendants have tainted the image of Bank Indonesia as the central bank," prosecutor Agus Salim told the court.
The defendants also failed to support the government's efforts to combat corruption, he added.
Oey, a former head of BI's legal bureau, and Rusli, a former head of BI's communications department, are being charged with illegally disbursing Rp 100 billion from BI's Indonesian Banking Development Foundation (YPPI) in June 2003.
The BI's board of directors decided to disburse the money during a meeting led by then BI governor Burhanuddin Abdullah.
Also at the meeting were deputy governors Aulia Pohan, Bun Bunan Hutapea and Aslim Tadjuddin.
However, Aulia -- who is the father-in-law of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's son -- Bun Bunan and Aslim have not been charged with graft, while Burhanuddin is being tried separately in the same case.
The prosecutors said Oey and Rusli had overseen the disbursement of the money.
The prosecutors said Oey withdrew Rp 68.5 billion from the fund and distributed it to five former senior BI officials -- Paul Sutopo, Hendro Budiyanto, Heru Soepraptomo, Iwan Prawiranata and Soedrajat Djiwandono -- who were all implicated in another BI graft case involving the misappropriation of BI liquidity support (BLBI) money.
The government used the BLBI funds to rescue major banks during the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s.
Rusli, who was suspended from his role as BI chief in Surabaya for the duration of his trial, has been accused of disbursing Rp 31.5 billion to then members of the House of Representatives Commission IX overseeing banking and financial affairs.
The money was allegedly used as bribes to speed up the settlement of BLBI cases and to pass an amendment to the 1999 BI law.
The funds were channeled to commission members via legislators Antony Zeidra Abidin and Hamka Yandhu, who are now standing trial at the same court.
"The defendants were fully aware of the possible consequences of withdrawing the money," Agus Salim said.
However, the prosecutor asked the judges to consider the polite and regretful attitude Rusli and Oey had shown in court and the fact that they had confessed to their misdeeds.
"The defendants still also have families to support and had never been involved in crime before," Agus said.
The panel of judges adjourned the trial until next week, when the defense will state its case.
Former Bank Indonesia top officials Oey Hoey Tiong and Rusli Simanjuntak each face six years in prison for their alleged involvement in the embezzlement of Rp 100 billion (US$10 million) from the central bank.
Prosecutors demanded Monday that the Corruption Court jail the two defendants for six years and fine them Rp 250 million each, adding that failure to pay the fees should result in eight-month extensions of their prison sentences.
Rusli, in particular, should also return the Rp 3 billion he received from the fund, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors said.
They said the defendants were guilty of fraud with an intent to enrich others.
"The defendants have tainted the image of Bank Indonesia as the central bank," prosecutor Agus Salim told the court.
The defendants also failed to support the government's efforts to combat corruption, he added.
Oey, a former head of BI's legal bureau, and Rusli, a former head of BI's communications department, are being charged with illegally disbursing Rp 100 billion from BI's Indonesian Banking Development Foundation (YPPI) in June 2003.
The BI's board of directors decided to disburse the money during a meeting led by then BI governor Burhanuddin Abdullah.
Also at the meeting were deputy governors Aulia Pohan, Bun Bunan Hutapea and Aslim Tadjuddin.
However, Aulia -- who is the father-in-law of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's son -- Bun Bunan and Aslim have not been charged with graft, while Burhanuddin is being tried separately in the same case.
The prosecutors said Oey and Rusli had overseen the disbursement of the money.
The prosecutors said Oey withdrew Rp 68.5 billion from the fund and distributed it to five former senior BI officials -- Paul Sutopo, Hendro Budiyanto, Heru Soepraptomo, Iwan Prawiranata and Soedrajat Djiwandono -- who were all implicated in another BI graft case involving the misappropriation of BI liquidity support (BLBI) money.
The government used the BLBI funds to rescue major banks during the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s.
Rusli, who was suspended from his role as BI chief in Surabaya for the duration of his trial, has been accused of disbursing Rp 31.5 billion to then members of the House of Representatives Commission IX overseeing banking and financial affairs.
The money was allegedly used as bribes to speed up the settlement of BLBI cases and to pass an amendment to the 1999 BI law.
The funds were channeled to commission members via legislators Antony Zeidra Abidin and Hamka Yandhu, who are now standing trial at the same court.
"The defendants were fully aware of the possible consequences of withdrawing the money," Agus Salim said.
However, the prosecutor asked the judges to consider the polite and regretful attitude Rusli and Oey had shown in court and the fact that they had confessed to their misdeeds.
"The defendants still also have families to support and had never been involved in crime before," Agus said.
The panel of judges adjourned the trial until next week, when the defense will state its case.