TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Kwik Kian Gie’s name used to extort his brother
Change Size
Former minister Kwik Kian Gie (second left) speaks at the House of Representatives in Jakarta. (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)
F
raudsters have allegedly extorted Rp 50 million (US$3,590) from a brother of prominent economist and former cabinet minister Kwik Kian Gie after they threatened to kill the former minister.
Through a phone conversation, one of the fraudsters allegedly ordered Hari Budianto Darmawan to transfer a fixed amount of money, otherwise he would rob and kill 83-year-old Kwik, South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Indra Jafar said.
Kwik was the coordinating economic and finance minister from 1999 to 2000 and minister of national development planning from 2001 to 2004.
"Hari Budianto Darmawan was told that his brother [Kwik] would be robbed," Indra said on Tuesday as quoted by kompas.com, adding that Hari received the phone call while he was at a hotel in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.
Another fraudster, Indra added, also talked over the phone with Hari while mimicking Kwik's voice. They allegedly asked Hari to transfer Rp 60 million.
"Soon after he transferred Rp 50 million to the criminals, Hari then called one of Kwik's children, only to find out that his brother was fine," Indra explained.
The police are currently investigating the case to identify those who made the phone call. (vla)
