Fugitive BLBI’s Convicted Dies, Legal Process To Continue
IBonWEB.com - Despite a former Indonesian banker Hendra Rahardja who was punished life sentence for corruption case has died in Australia, the Indonesian government will continue his legal process. The government will also continue to claim Hendra’s assets in both Australia and Hong Kong.
Minister of Justice and Human Right Yusril Ihza Mahendra insisted that Hendra’s debts to the state still have to be settled even though he had died. In term of the criminal law perspective, the prosecution against Hendra was automatically discontinued. However, the civil law will still be pursued.
Yusril said that the legal cooperation was being undertaken with Australian authorities to recover the assets. According to the Australian government, Hendra’s assets that could be traced in both Australia and Hong Kong worth of US$120 million.
The judges of Jakarta High Court led by Ign Subiyanto punished life sentence for Hendra Rahardja, the former chief commissioner of BHS. The High Court verdict supported the previous verdict by Central Jakarta District Court which sentenced in absentia for corruption involving the misuse of Rp1.95 trillion (US$219 million) in the Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI) in March last year.
Hendra Rahardja, who is brother of famous escaped prisoner in banking case Eddy Tanzil, was arrested in Australia in 1999 by immigration officials. Although the Indonesian government had repeatedly tried to have him extradited, the Australian government has not answered yet. KM
