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Jiwasraya defendant Benny Tjokrosaputro named money laundering suspect

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Jakarta Post - September 8, 2020

Jakarta – The National Police have named Benny Tjokrosaputro, the president director of publicly listed property firm PT Hanson International, a prime suspect in a money laundering case involving a shell bank.

Brig. Gen. Helmy Santika, who helms the financial crimes unit of the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim), accused Benny of having collected illicit funds through his position at the company.

"[Benny] is the main perpetrator who collected illegal funds through the legal body PT Hanson International and the cooperative Hanson Mitra Mandiri," Helmy said on Monday as quoted by kompas.com.

However, he said the police needed to question Benny further. The businessman is on trial for his alleged involvement in a widely publicized graft case involving state insurer PT Asuransi Jiwasraya.

"Benny's detainment will need to wait until after the examination at the [Jakarta] Corruption Court," Helmy added.

Benny was among the suspects named by the Attorney General's Office (AGO) in the high-profile Jiwasraya graft case earlier this year.

Indonesian Anti-Corruption Community (MAKI) coordinator Boyamin Saiman previously reported Hanson International to Bareskrim, alleging that the company had committed a financial crime.

Boyamin claimed the company had collected public funds in violation of the country's Banking Law.

"The Banking Law stipulates that [individuals] carrying out banking practices, such as accepting investments, savings or deposits, without authorization may face up to 10 years [in prison]," Boyamin said.

He added that Hanson International had allegedly collected Rp 2.4 trillion (US$162.1 million) since 2016 to purchase land in Lebak regency, Banten and Bogor regency, West Java. (rfa)

Source: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/09/08/jiwasraya-defendant-benny-tjokrosaputro-named-money-laundering-suspect.html

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