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KPPU SCANDAL: Witnesses confirm Billy's connection to Lippo Group
Two witnesses told the Corruption Court on Monday that Billy Sindoro, a suspect in a bribery scandal involving the Business Supervisory Competition Commission (KPPU), was closely linked to the Lippo Group
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Two witnesses told the Corruption Court on Monday that Billy Sindoro, a suspect in a bribery scandal involving the Business Supervisory Competition Commission (KPPU), was closely linked to the Lippo Group.
Chief Executive Officer of PT Direct Vision Nelia Concapcion Molato said even though Billy did not have a structural position in the company, she always reported its financial information to him.
“I do not know his exact position [in Direct Vision]. All I know is that he represents Lippo and he did not have a structural position in Direct Vision,” Nelia said.
She acknowledged that Lippo and Astro were shareholders of Direct Vision until 2005.
That year, Lippo and Astro signed an agreement requiring the latter to provide broadcasting programs to Direct Vision, including the English Premier League, on the basis that Lippo would give Astro a 51 percent share of Direct Vision.
“Astro was responsible for the operations [of Direct Vision], while Lippo was responsible for the financial affairs,” she said.
In 2006 the ownership of Direct Vision was taken over by PT Silver Concord and PT Ayunda Prima.
When Billy’s lawyer Otto Hasibuan asked Nelia about the relationship between his client and Ayunda, she said she did not know.
“With Direct Vision?” Otto asked further. Nelia replied that all she knew was that Billy was the one who interviewed her to be chief executive officer of the company.
She said that between 2007 and 2008 when PT Indonusa Telemedia, PT Indosat Mega Media and PT Media Nusantara Citra Sky Vision filed a report with the KPPU over the alleged monopoly held by PT Direct Vision over the rights to broadcast English Premier League matches, her company had already formed a team to handle the lawsuit and told Billy not to interfere in the case.
IT manager of Lippo’s subsidiary PT Lippo E-net, Benedict Sulaiman, similarly confirmed that Billy was a senior official of the company.
He said Billy often had meetings with guests, including one on Sept. 16, 2008 at Aryaduta Hotel, Jakarta, where Billy and KPPU member Muhammad Iqbal were arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
Billy handed over a black bag containing Rp 500 million (US$44,750) in an alleged bribe to Iqbal after the KPPU ruled in favor of Direct Vision in a dispute over the rights to broadcast English soccer matches.
Benedict admitted that he helped make the reservation at Room 1712 in the hotel where Billy met with Iqbal. He also acknowledged that Billy told him to send an email to Iqbal about an order for the Malaysian-based Astro All Asia Multimedia Networks to continue providing the league’s programs to Direct Vision.
“Billy dictated the content of the letter to me and I sent it to Iqbal’s email on Aug. 28, 2008,” he said.
