Jakarta, Tintanusantara.co.id — Henry Hosang, Chairman of Cerdas Waspada Investasi Global (CWIG), has challenged the legal counsel of PT BAT Instrumen Bank Internasional (BAT Bank), Rivai Zakaria Yahya, to substantiate several public statements made amid the growing controversy surrounding the institution.
Hosang said that with multiple customer complaints emerging — some of which have reportedly been submitted to law enforcement authorities — the public has a legitimate interest in ensuring that the business activities in question are supported by clear legal authorization.
“Has Rivai ever seen an operational license for PT BAT Instrumen Bank Internasional to operate as a ‘bank’ in Indonesia issued by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) and Bank Indonesia?” Hosang asked.
According to Hosang, a mediation meeting had previously taken place between BAT Bank representatives and several platinum membership customers who claim to have suffered financial losses. The meeting was held at BAT Bank’s office following an official invitation sent to the affected customers.
However, the mediation failed to reach an agreement after BAT Bank allegedly requested the customers to sign a document which, according to the victims’ legal representatives, could potentially limit or waive their legal rights in the future.
“In that situation, the discussion became quite tense between the parties,” Hosang said.
Hosang stated that the mediation lasted more than two hours and included several remarks from BAT Bank’s legal counsel that, in his view, warrant public scrutiny.
He claimed that during the recorded discussion, Rivai Zakaria Yahya described Dato Sulaiman as someone he considers a mentor in the financial sector.
“In the same recording, Rivai also stated that if Dato Sulaiman were proven to have committed wrongdoing, he himself would pursue legal action against him,” Hosang said.
Hosang added that such statements should be reflected through a cooperative attitude toward the legal process currently underway.
“If there is confidence that no violations have occurred, then the best course of action would be openness and cooperation with the ongoing legal process. Let those statements be proven,” he said.
Hosang also raised questions regarding the absence of certain parties from two clarification sessions reportedly scheduled by investigators at the Metro Jaya Regional Police.
According to him, the public has a reasonable basis to question the reasons for those absences, particularly if requests were made to postpone the process until after the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
“In any legal process, cooperation is essential in order to provide clarity on matters that are under investigation,” he said.
Hosang further referred to remarks allegedly made by Rivai during the mediation when responding to the possibility of victims pursuing legal action.
According to Hosang, Rivai acknowledged that everyone has the right to report matters to the police and defend themselves, but also made comments implying his familiarity with law enforcement authorities.
“Please go ahead, everyone has the right to report to the police and everyone has the right to defend themselves. But if you want to deal with the police, you should ask the police about ‘me’,” Hosang said, quoting what he claims was recorded during the mediation.
Hosang said such language could create an impression among victims that BAT Bank may be beyond the reach of law enforcement.
“Statements like that can give the impression to victims that BAT Bank would not be touched by the law. That is certainly regrettable,” he said.
Hosang added that Rivai also told the victims he would speak directly with Dato Sulaiman to resolve the matter and arrange the return of the customers’ funds.
“I will speak with Dato to settle this and return your money this month,” Hosang quoted Rivai as saying in the mediation.
Hosang also noted that Rivai shared his personal philosophy during the meeting, stating that he prefers to make matters easier for others so that he will not face difficulties in the afterlife.
In addition, Hosang referred to a claim made by Rivai regarding a family connection with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto through his wife’s family in Manado.
According to Hosang, the statement raised several questions given the age differences involved, and he suggested the public could draw its own conclusions regarding the claim.
The mediation meeting was also attended by an individual who said he had extensive experience in the banking sector and who described BAT Bank’s operational model as involving an “undername bank” mechanism in Turkey.
Hosang said such statements instead raised further questions regarding the clarity of BAT Bank’s legal status and operational framework in Indonesia.
BAT Bank, through its legal counsel, had previously denied media allegations that the institution operates without licenses from the Financial Services Authority (OJK) and Bank Indonesia.
Hosang said the ongoing controversy should therefore be addressed through transparency.
“If there are indeed clear operational licenses and no violations have occurred, it should not be difficult to present them openly to the public and to law enforcement authorities,” he said.
Hosang emphasized that his statements were made as part of efforts to encourage transparency and support law enforcement in relation to public reports that are currently under review.(*/Red)
