MAS JOKO

Rangga Prakoso

A former Citibank Indonesia teller who helped Inong Malinda Dee skim millions of dollars from customers’ accounts was sentenced to five years in prison by a panel of judges at the South Jakarta District Court on Monday.

Dwi Herawati was also fined Rp 10 billion ($1 million). If she is unable to pay the fine, Dwi will have to serve an additional three months in jail.

“We declare the defendant legally and convincingly guilty of violating article 49, subchapter 1a of the Banking Law,” said Judge Suhanto as he read out the verdict.

The sentence was less than the eight years in prison and Rp 10 billion in fines sought by the prosecution.

Dwi was found guilty of approving falsified transfer forms handed to her by Malinda. Malinda, a relationships manager with the bank, was using the documents to embezzle some Rp 45.8 billion ($5 million) from 37 accounts belonging to some of Citibank Indonesia’s wealthiest customers.

Dwi should have approved the transfers with the clients directly. Instead she took Malinda’s word, transferring the money into a number of accounts in the name of Malinda’s relatives. The police forensic lab found that the signatures on three transfer forms were forged.

She should have rejected the forms submitted by Malinda since the signatures did not match, Suhanto said.

The former bank teller processed 87 transfers for Malinda, totaling $3.6 million.

“The defendant had enough knowledge to see that there were

irregularities in the forms that were submitted. She should not have

passed on the forms that were filled with false data,” Suhanto said.

Former Citibank cash officer Novianty Iriane and Citibank cash supervisor Betharia Panjaitan are also standing trial for allegedly helping Malinda embezzle the funds. Prosecutors have recommended both be sentenced to eight years in prison and be fined Rp 10 billion.

Malinda was sentenced to eight years in prison and ordered to pay Rp 10 billion in fines for her role in the case.

BeritaSatu/JG

Sumber : http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/archive/ex-citibank-teller-sentenced-to-five-years-for-helping-malinda-dee-in-scam/523768/