Friday, 27 July, 2012 | 16:19 WIB
Djoko Tjandra’s Empire in PNG
TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The suspect in the case of the Bank Bali’s transfer of the right to collect, Djoko Soegiarto Tjandra, is believed to have huge assets and large businesses in Papua New Guinea (PNG), which may explain that the Mulia Group’s boss did not merely flee Indonesia to seek mere refuge in PNG.
Deputy Attorney General Darmono claims he does not know for certain yet the assets and businesses that Joko has there. "Quite significant, he has his own private plane," he said Thursday, July 26, 2012.
Despite mentioning that Djoko has a private plane, Darmono is reluctant to disclose more. "We can’t just make estimates," he said. "The important thing he can now be brought to Indonesia to face the law."
Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, in addition to a legal opinion or a legal opinion from a law firm, the PNG government allegedly granted Djoko citizenship because of his big role in the country.
In connection with the petition to bring Djoko to Indonesia, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is still awaiting the return of PNG's Ambassador to Indonesia, Peter Ilau, from his country. According to Djoko, the AGO continues to wait and communicate with Peter on Djoko’s repatriation. "The Ambassador won’t be back until next week. Let’s see what happens," said Darmono.
Djoko Tjandra was convicted in a case related to Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI) amounting to Rp904 billion. He was to have gone to prison for two years after the prosecution filed a judicial review with the Supreme Court (MA). In addition, the MA imposed a fine of Rp15 million and confiscated his money in Bank Bali of Rp546 billion.
However, Djoko, also a former President Director of PT Era Giat Prima, fled Indonesia on a chartered plane from Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, East Jakarta, to Port Moresby, PNG on June 10, 2009, exactly one day before the MA gave the verdict. FRANSISCO ROSARIANS