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Jakarta Post

Graft suspect Bahasyim in pain following arrest: Lawyer

One of the lawyers of money laundering suspect Bahasyim Assifie, John K

Dicky Christanto (The Jakarta Post)
JAKARTA
Sun, April 11, 2010

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Graft suspect Bahasyim in pain following arrest: Lawyer

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ne of the lawyers of money laundering suspect Bahasyim Assifie, John K. Azis, said his team was planning to request to Jakarta Police a suspension of detention of their client, citing Bahasyim's poor health condition.

Azis said that while his client had overcome the shock of his arrest he was still feeling pains in his chest.

"My client has been cooperating well with the police. I don't understand why they have to put my client in custody," he said Saturday.

Bahasyim was named a suspect for money laundering by Jakarta Police on Friday. He was also detained at the City Police detention center awaiting further questioning.

City Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Boy Rafli Amar had earlier said the police had found legitimate reasons to bring Bahasyim in. Police investigations had found evidence of a total Rp 64 billion (US$7.1 million) in "suspicious" bank transfers to accounts of family members.

According to Boy, Bahasyim transferred Rp 35 billion and $1 million to his wife's account and another Rp 19 billion to his daughter's.

When the police investigators froze the accounts in late March, Boy said they had found the funds untouched, now totaling Rp 66 billion with the addition of Rp 2 billion worth of interest.

"As of *Friday*, our investigation found 47 suspicious transactions related to the accounts and we will keep investigating suspects linked to those transactions," he said.

During his 34-year tax office career and two more years at the National Development Planning Board, it was reported that Bahasyim never received more than Rp 10 million per month in his salary.

The case came into the spotlight after the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Center (PPATK) revealed Bahasyim's suspicious bank deposits last year. Bahasyim's fortune includes two houses in the affluent Menteng area of Central Jakarta, and several other luxury houses in Kalibata, South Jakarta, Depok and Bekasi, the center said.

Emerson Yuntho of Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) suggested the police also arrest those in the family who had received funds from Bahasyim. "We need to treat those who give and receive the money the same. I strongly suggest the police also arrest Bahasyim's wife and daughter because they also received the money," he said.

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