Govt suppliers could face 20 years in jail

The Jakarta Post | Wed, 02/04/2009 9:54 PM | National 

Two businessmen will face up to 20 years’ jail if found guilty of profiting from “fabricated” projects at the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry in 2004. 

The two defendants standing trial at the Corruption Court are PT Gita Vidya Hutama director Ines Wulanari Setyawaty and PT Panton Pauh president director Putra Karnawi. Ines is accused of misappropriating funds while supplying engines and training equipment to the ministry’s vocational training centers in Makassar, while Karnawi stands accused of similar crimes in Aceh and Medan. 

Both Ines and Karnawi were charged with stealing Rp 1.7 billion and Rp 2 billion respectively from the project budget, prosecutors told the court Wednesday. 

The case revolves around the purchase of equipment for 10 vocational training centers throughout Indonesia. The suppliers cooperated with project committee head Taswin Zein to sign a backdated document in December 2004 accelerating the distribution of the total Rp 45 billion, despite not having purchased any of the equipment at that point. 

Taswin, also former treasurer of the ministry, was jailed for four years in December for aiding the manipulation of the contracts as well as gaining Rp 100 million from corrupt activities.