Wanted Man in Bank Bali Scandal Challenges His Graft Conviction Again

Heru Andriyanto

Businessman Djoko Tjandra, yet to turn himself over to serve a two-year graft jail term, has filed an appeal against the Supreme Court verdict that found him guilty in a corruption case related to the 1999 Bank Bali scandal, an official said on Wednesday.

The move has infuriated the Attorney General’s Office which has summoned him three times to start serving his jail term, AGO spokesman Jasman Panjaitan said.

Jasman said that prosecutors have received an invitation from the South Jakarta District Court to attend a hearing slated for Monday to hear a demand for a case review requested by Djoko’s lawyer, Otto Cornelius Kaligis.

“Which case is the lawyer is appealing against?” Jasman asked rhetorically.

Jasman questioned the legal validity of the case review requested by Djoko, as the Supreme Court verdict was also based on a case review lodged by prosecutors.

He referred to a Supreme Court circular dated June 12 stating that a case review could only be requested once in any case.

“A case review cannot be used against a Supreme Court verdict that is based on another case review,” Jasman said.

The circular was issued just one day after the top court sentenced Djoko and former central bank Governor Sjahril Sabirin for the misappropriation of Rp 905 billion that Bank Indonesia had intended for repayment of Bank Bali debts, which has since merged with several other banks into Bank Permata.

However, Jasman said the AGO would honor the court hearing invitation and has appointed two district prosecutors to attend it.

“They will question the legal standing of the case review by Djoko,” Jasman said.

Jasman said that Kaligis must clarify whether he had met with his client since the verdict was issued and how he secured an official assignment from Djoko to lodge the case review.

He did not elaborate, but was most likely referring to the fact that harboring wanted convicts or failing to report their whereabouts to authorities was punishable by nine months in jail.

The South Jakarta Prosecutors’ Office has sent its third and final summons to Djoko requesting he turn himself in by Friday or face stronger measures.

Marwan Effendy, deputy attorney general for special crimes, said he believed that Djoko was in Singapore visiting relatives.

Marwan said earlier that Djoko had asked for a delay until July 18 for his imprisonment because he had to settle businesses in Papua New Guinea and Singapore.

Kaligis, also in Singapore, was quoted by Antara news agency as saying that he had no knowledge of Djoko’s whereabouts.