Seoharto2008 - Supersemar found guilty
27-Mar-08
In 1975, the government established the Supersemar Foundation to provide scholarships for poor students, athletes and foster children across the country.
During its development, Soeharto and his cronies misused the funds by diverting them to several of their companies, such as Kosgoro, Sempati, PT Bank Duta, PT Kiani Sakti and PT Kiani Lestari.
Soeharto’s death on Jan. 27 saw a transfer of some of the legal rights to five of his children: Siti Hardijanti Rukmana, Sigit Harjojudanto, Bambang Trihatmodjo, Siti Hediati Hariyadi and Siti Hutami Endang Adiningsih. Soeharto’s youngest son Hutomo Mandala Putra was not among the heirs.
The South Jakarta District Court found Thursday the Supersemar Foundation guilty of misusing scholarship funds, but ordered it to repay only one fourth of the losses it caused to the state.
The foundation, set up by late former president Soeharto, was said to have caused state losses of US$420.6 million and Rp 186.1 billion (US$20.2 million).
The court asked for compensation of $105 million and Rp 46.4 billion and discharged it from paying the further compensation of a total of Rp 10 trillion for immaterial losses as demanded by the prosecutors.
Presiding judge Wahyono said the civil court was only able to declare the $105 million and Rp 46.4 billion as the government’s money, while the sources of the remaining $314.4 million and Rp 139.7 billion were undetectable.
~Jakarta Post