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PSSI execs reported to police over fraud
Three companies that provided services for the 2008 Pertamina Independence Cup soccer tournament in August have reported an Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) executive to the Jakarta Police for nonpayment of bills
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Three companies that provided services for the 2008 Pertamina Independence Cup soccer tournament in August have reported an Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) executive to the Jakarta Police for nonpayment of bills.
Sofwan Nikita, the PSSI's coordinator of tournaments, was accused of failing to pay Rp 228 million (US$20,821) for services rendered by laundry company Flora, bus rental company Dasa Sentosa, and car rental company Putra.
"He should have paid off the charges right after the tournament ended on August 29," Deolipa Yumara, a lawyer representing the companies, said Tuesday.
"But our clients have still not received (the payments), even now."
Sofwan could face fraud and embezzlement charges, which carry a maximum sentence of four years in jail.
Deolipa said Flora should have received Rp 60 million for its laundry services.
"On behalf of the PSSI, Sofwan paid Rp 10 million prior to the tournament. But he did not pay the rest, even after the event finished," he said.
Dasa Sentosa and Putra claim the PSSI executive also failed to pay them obligations amounting Rp 88 million and Rp 90 million respectively.
Deolipa said he might also sue the PSSI over its failure to fulfill the obligations, but hinted his clients were still open to "negotiations to resolve the case amicably".
"We also plan to write to the Asian Football Federation (AFF) and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to help settle the case," he said.
This latest debacle involving a PSSI executive is the second of its kind this year. In July, the management of Kaisar Hotel filed a complaint against PSSI secretary-general Nugraha Besoes over a bounced check for Rp 685 million for the hotel's services during the AFF Under-16 Youth Championship soccer tournament.
South Jakarta Police summoned Nugraha for questioning but he chose not to appear.
When asked why, Nugraha said the PSSI had appointed lawyers to handle the case.
"If they want to write to the AFF, just go ahead. I think the federation would consider the case an internal (PSSI) matter anyway," he said.
PSSI lawyer Arteri Dahlan said he was upbeat the case implicating Nugraha would be settled amicably.
"We are working on it," he said.
On the case implicating Sofwan, he said, "I haven't received any information so far regarding the new lawsuit filed by the laundry, bus and car rental companies."
