Clinton Friend Riady to Plead Guilty to Illegal Contributions

James T. Riady, who heads the worldwide Lippo banking group and is a longtime friend of President Clinton, appeared in Los Angeles federal court Tuesday on charges related to illegal campaign contributions in the 1996 Democratic fund-raising scandal and during previous years.

Last week, Riady, 44, of Indonesia, agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of conspiring to make illegal campaign contributions to Democratic candidates through foreign sources.

Riady also agreed to enter guilty pleas to 86 misdemeanor counts on behalf of LippoBank California, a state-chartered financial institution run by the Riady family.

The charges stem from the political scandal that involved campaign donations made between 1988 and 1996, including a $1-million pledge to Clinton.

To fulfill the plea agreement, Riady appeared briefly Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Stephen J. Hillman, who assigned the case to U.S. District Judge Ronald S. Lew.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys are planning to file a joint request, asking Lew to grant Riady a hearing in six weeks.

Under terms of the plea agreement, Riady will be sentenced to two years’ probation and 400 hours of community service and will be prevented from reentering the United States for two years, unless his presence is required by the government.

LippoBank California will pay a fine of $8.6 million, the largest fine ever assessed in a campaign finance case.

Federal election law prohibits contributions by foreign corporations and noncitizens who live outside the United States.