Former Indonesia investment chief jailed for graft

JAKARTA, Aug 25 (Reuters) Indonesia's anti-corruption court today sentenced the government's former investment chief to six years in jail, the latest high profile figure to be convicted as part of the country's drive to stamp out corruption.

Theo Toemion was found guilty of misusing funds intended to promote Indonesia to foreign businessmen from 2003-2004, costing the state 23.1 billion rupiah (2.53 million dollars).

The court said he awarded the investment programme to a local company without a tender and diverted some of the money to a television production house he owned.

Toemion, who has denied any wrongdoing, said he would appeal.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono vowed to take a hard line on corruption when he took office in October 2004.

Indonesia is among the world's most corrupt countries.

Toemion was replaced as the head of the Investment Coordinating Board last year in the wake of media reports he attacked foreigners at a school basketball game in Jakarta. Government officials never linked his dismissal to the incident.

Indonesian newspapers had said Toemion lost his temper and punched some foreigners at the basketball game at the Jakarta International School.

Toemion apologised for the incident, prompted by what he said was discrimination against his son, one of the players.

Many investors complain that Indonesia is one of the toughest places in the region to do business, partly because of endemic corruption.

Among other big graft cases in the current campaign, former minister of religion Said Agil Munawar and Aceh governor Abdullah Puteh have been jailed for corruption.

REUTERS KR RS1551