AS someone close to the powerful, Prajogo Pangestu went straight to Cendana, the President's residence, when his Bank Andromeda was closed down by the government on November 11, 1997. As it turned out, close proximity to tyrants was no guarantee.

The financial crisis dealt Prajogo a heavy blow. His associates had collapsed. His businesses had ebbed. "We were busy trying to repay our debts," said the 63-year-old businessman to Tempo reporters Wahyu Mu