$110 million for BTK

Tempo Semanal can report that Frans BTK Holywono, the owner of CARYA TIMOR LESTE PTY.LTD in Dili Timor-Leste has been awarded contracts by the Government of Timor-Leste in 2010 and 2011 to a total of nearly $111 million.  To be exact $110,933,275.57. 

In contract BTK was awarded a $86,898,684.00 project. making it the third largest act of public procurement after power plants, and FDTL patrol boats.   This contract was for Construction of New Houses (Total 11,140 houses) Timor- Leste MDG Project. (Contract no. RDTL 11004352) Awarded by prime Minister and President of the Council of Mnisters Award Date:05-10-2011 Contract Signing Date 12-10-2011.  How many of these houses have been built and has full payment been made?

While most Timorese remain impoverished an Indonesian business man is becoming extremely wealthy in Timor-Leste.  BTK is reportedly to have had employees involved in drugs in Timor-Leste and was one of the largest political contributors to the CNRT party election campaign.

 

In 2010 BTK got 15 contracts for a total of $17,598,712.20

But it was in 2011 that BTK won only five contracts but they had a value of a staggering $93,334,563.37.

• 05-10-2011 Construction of New Houses (Total 11,140 houses) Timor- Leste MDG Project. (Contract no. RDTL 11004352) $86,898,684.00

• 25-08-2011 Construction of Road and Drainage for the Integrated Boarder Posts at Batugade, Salele and Sakato (Contract No. RDTL-11004012) $2,837,998.37

• 05-07-2011 Supply of equipment for Postos Integrado fronteira Batugade, Salele e Sakato (Contract No. RDTL-11002608) $312,161.00

• 07-06-2011 Rehabilitation and Maintenance of Runway in Comoro, Stage 2 - under agreement/contract no. (RDTL - 11001711) $2,385,720.00

• 02-06-2011 Special Contract Continuation Project, Jardim Metinaro for Heroes (Contract No. RDTL - 11005254) $900,000.00

Many people asked why BTK is win the most government contracts? This question remains because only those in the government can answer.

Breaking News: BTK Compound Searched by Police

On the morning of 24 August 2010 Timorese National Police (PNTL) searched the BTK compound residence and offices of Frans Holiwono contractor business "BTK" across the street from Democracy Field in central Dili.  The court issued a search warrant following the arrest of two BTK employees outside the compound on 8 August 2010.  These two staff were remanded to Becora prison for 6 month preventative detention until such time as their case can be heard by the court. The police were searching the compound in an effort to obtain evidence relating to drug trafficking allegations in Timor-Leste.

Two Indonesian suspected of Drug Dealer sent to Becora Prison last night

After long hours of preliminary investigation, the Dili District court has sent another two suspected drugs dealers to Becora Prison. As noted in previous reports two Indonesian citizens currently working as and an engineer and an accountant in an Indonesian owned construction company known as "BTK" and "Holiwono". They were arrested near by the BTK compound in Dili on 09/08/2010 by East Timorese Police. The Judge decided to put them in preventive detention for six months for further investigation until such time as the case can go to trial.

Several Indonesian citizen have already been arrested and jailed due to their involvement in dealing drugs in East Timor.

On 25 of May 2009 at Carla Mansion Hotel in Dili an Indonesian drug dealer named Budi Santoso was arrested and later sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. At the same time night East Timorese police also arrested Indonesian citizen Ms. Rinda Sari Tamsil. She was brought before the court and was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.  However, Tamsil escaped custody and is ow believed to be in West Timor in Indonesian province of Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT).

Mr. Budi is now serving his prison term in East Timor's main prison in Becora, Dili.

Another suspected drug dealer was arrested sometime ago but remains at large.

East Timorese security agencies are suspicious of the involvement the boss of BTK in the case of drug trafficking in East Timor. But Mr. Frans BTK denies any wrong doing. “They
are innocent and I am here to help East Timor,” said Frans. “I am catholic and I swear to God and the Holy Land of Timor,” he added.  

On the other hand the the lawyer for the two suspects tried to obtain their release.  "My clients are not the real suspects because when they were arrested the police found nothing with them but the police found the "sabu sabu" [narcotics] in somebody else's bag,” said Angelo [defence lawyer]. He continued, “Where are the other two suspects? Those suspects are the ones trying to sell the sabu-sabu to my clients but the price is very expensive so my clients decided not to buy.” 

But the authorities said the two suspects are actually the ones trying to seel as opposed to buy the narcotics, and the buyers were police informants.  They also claim to have a register of phone calls and SMS text messages in communication between the suspects with the two police informant. END

Two Indonesian Employees of BTK Arrested by PNTL: Suspected to be drug dealers.

Two indonesian citizens employed by Holiwono Lda owned by Frans BTK were arrested by the Policia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL), Timor-Leste's National Police Service on Monday the 09 August 2010 at 2200hrs.  They were arrested on suspicions of dealing in Sabu Sabu narcotics/drugs.

Suspect No. 1 Ahmad Irfan born in Makassar Sulawesi on 28 April 1983 entered Timor-Leste on 28 April 2007 to work as an engineer at Holiwono Lda.

Suspect No. 2 Dedy Edwin Setiawan born in Blitar on 27 January 1982 arrived in Timor-Leste in January 2009 to work in the accounting section at Holiwono Lda.

Both suspects reside at the BTK compound across from Democracy Field in Audian, Dili, Timor-Leste.

A red motor bike with plate number 0911 TL, came out from the "BTK" gate towards a small Indonesian warung right in front of BTK Office a few minutes before the arrest took place.  They were carrying a bag.  They sat in front of the warung near a tiga roda.  A car was parked nearby.  A woman walked out towards them.  She handed to one an amount of USD cash - Tempo Semanal viewed the cash to be 20.00USD notes.  One of the men handed over what is suspected to be a package of sabu sabu.

At that moment two men approached them.  One of the men, wearing, shorts, pulled out a pistol on seeing the two suspects attempt to escape.  The pistol bearing man shouted.  "Do not run, or I will shoot you!" and then, "stay in your position and do not move."

Then Mr. Ahmad Irfan lay on the ground and some more police came and took them away with the evidence.

Pedro Belo Dili District Commander for PNTL told Tempo Semanal this afternoon that the suspects remain in detention at PNTL District HQ in Kaikoli Dili.

Left: Frans BTK: Holiwono

East Timor is at risk by the drugs and people smugglers from Indonesia and elsewhere. The President of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta has expressed concerns over drug operations in East Timor.

In the capitol of Timor-Leste many brothels are being run and are often using women from Indonesia, China and other Asian countries.  Indonesian law is very tough on drugs and some people are executed for drug related offences.  There is some question as to whether or not these two suspected Indonesian drug smugglers will be released or charged with crimes.  One source close the investigation doubt's that the owners of Holiwono BTK will be held to account if connected to the crimes (as the authorities suspect his involvement), saying "he is very influential businesman and closed to the politians," said a PNTL Commander who has asked not to named.