tate-owned lender Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) has pledged to return billions of rupiah stolen from a Catholic parish in North Sumatra in an embezzlement case involving the bank’s branch head, following demands from the Financial Services Authority (OJK) for the bank to ensure full refunds.
BNI said it would fully reimburse the St. Fransiscus Asisi Catholic church parish in Aek Nabara, Labuhanbatu regency for around Rp 28 billion (US$1.63 million) belonging to its credit union funds, which was swindled by former Aek Nabara branch head Andi Hakim Febriansyah in the past seven years.
“We understand the concerns and impact experienced by members of the Aek Nabara parish credit union,” BNI human capital and compliance director Munadi Herlambang said in a company statement on Sunday.
“We also apologize for this incident and are committed to resolving the reimbursements.”
Muhadi further said BNI aims to finish the refunds by Friday, noting that the bank has so far disbursed Rp 7 billion as an initial repayment as a show of good faith.
“We will ensure that the funds are returned this week,” Munadi said in a virtual press conference on Sunday.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning.
Read also: Catholic parish in North Sumatra demands BNI returns its money
