VZCZCXRO9429
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHNH RUEHPB
DE RUEHJA #0189/01 2260758
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 140758Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8703
INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3593
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0053
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 9847
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0426
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0386
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1204
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3723
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 9980
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0036
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 010189 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/FO, EAP/K, AND EAP/RSP 
STATE ALSO FOR ISN/CPI AND EB/ESC/TFS 
TREASURY FOR IA AND TERRORISM FINANCE AMIT SHARMA 
TREASURY ALSO FOR U/S LEVEY 
BANGKOK FOR USSS KYLE REGO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2016 
TAGS: EFIN ETTC KFTN PREL PTER PARM MNUC KJUS ID
SUBJECT: BANK MANDIRI CLOSES DPRK ACCOUNTS 
 
REF: STATE 55463 
 
Classified By: Classified by Economic Officer Ruth M. Hall, Reasons 1.4 
(b)(c)(d)(e)(g). 
 
¶1. (S) Summary. After repeated interventions by the Embassy, 
Bank Mandiri and Central Bank officials confirmed August 9 
and 11 that Bank Mandiri had shut down its relationship with 
two North Korean banks in July: Korea Daesong Bank and the 
Foreign Trade Bank of the DPRK.  Bank Mandiri did not/not 
find any correspondent banking relationship with Tanchon 
Commercial Bank.  Embassy had raised the issue at the 
Ambassador and Counselor level in several meetings and 
communications with Government of Indonesia and Bank 
Indonesia officials, as well as directly with Bank Mandiri. 
Embassy encouraged continued scrutiny of DPRK financial 
activities in Indonesia in a meeting with BI on August 11. 
End Summary. 
 
¶2. (S) Chairman of the Board of Commissioners at Bank Mandiri 
Indonesia, Edwin Gerungan (please protect) told the Embassy 
on August 9 that Mandiri had shut down its relationship with 
two DPRK banks in July: Korea Daesong Bank and the Foreign 
Trade Bank of the DPRK.  Gerungan said the account with the 
Foreign Trade Bank had been inactive.  Bank Mandiri had not 
found any past or current relationship with Tanchon 
Commercial Bank.  Bank Indonesia (BI) officials confirmed 
this information on August 11.  The Assistant to the Board of 
Governors of BI, Boyke W. Suadi, said that Bank Mandiri had 
promised a report on its findings and actions to BI Deputy 
Governor Maman H. Somantri. 
 
¶3. (S) Embassy took numerous actions in response to reftel 
request in April. 
 
-- Embassy provided reftel information to officials at the 
Foreign Ministry, Bank Indonesia, and the Financial 
Intelligence Unit, urging an investigation of Tanchon 
activities on April 11.  Economic Section followed-up with 
requests for action. 
 
-- Ambassador, Political Counselor, and Econoffs raised in 
meetings and other communications with Presidential Advisors 
at the Palace and Foreign Ministry officials, in May, June 
and July, providing documentation and following-up with 
responses to questions. 
 
-- U.S. Secret Service Agent Kyle Rego met with BI, Police, 
PPATK, customs and intelligence officials regarding 
counterfeit U.S. currency, probably DPRK-originated 
supernotes (high-quality counterfeits) on June 21 in Jakarta. 
 The 35 $100 supernotes appear to have been issued by Bank 
Mandiri to an unwitting Indonesian citizen who exchanged 
Indonesian rupiah for U.S. dollars before heading to 
Singapore for medical treatment.  The counterfeits were 
detected in Singapore.  At the same meeting Econoff urged 
follow-up with BI's investigative unit on Tanchon. 
 
-- Bank Indonesia) Directorate of Legal Affairs officials 
told Embassy Econoff on June 26 that it would not take any 
action regarding on Bank Mandiri's relationship with DPRK 
financial institutions. 
 
-- After receiving talking points releasable to Bank Mandiri 
from Department, Economic Counselor raised the issue with 
Mandiri Chairman Edwin Gerungan on July 19.  Gerungan clearly 
understood the importance of the issue both of the DPRK 
banking activity and of the counterfeit supernote issue.  He 
requested further details, which Embassy provided. 
 
-- Acting Economic Section Chief met with BI Deputy Governor 
Maman H. Somantri on August 3 to raise the DRPK banks issue. 
Econoff provided the text of the July 15 UNSC resolution 1695 
on the DPRK, which includes language requiring "all Member 
 
JAKARTA 00010189  002 OF 002 
 
 
States, in accordance with their national legal authorities 
and legislation and consistent with international law, to 
exercise vigilance and prevent missle and missle-related 
items, materials, goods and technology from the DPRK, and the 
transfer of any financial resources in relation to DPRK's 
missile or WMD programs."  BI officials appeared 
uncomfortable during the meeting but seemed to understand the 
importance of the matter. 
 
-- Embassy advised Bank Mandiri's Edwin Gerungan of Mandiri 
aliases "Changgwang Credit Bank" and "Korea Changgwang Credit 
Bank" on August 10. 
 
-- Acting Economic Section Chief met with BI Boyke W. Suadi 
on August 11 to provide further information on DPRK use of 
front companies and the Tanchon aliases.  Embassy encouraged 
continued scrutiny by BI of DPRK financial institutions 
activity or attempted activity in Indonesia. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶4. (S) Post appreciates Department flexibility in providing 
cleared talking points for use with Bank Mandiri.  In 
combination with other interventions, discussions with Bank 
Mandiri management seems to have facilitated the most direct 
action to close down the DPRK banks.  Embassy will follow up 
with BI on the aliases for Tanchon and continue to monitor 
developments. 
PASCOE