Bondan resigns over Bulogate<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Acting State Secretary Bondan Gunawan became the
\nlatest high profile casualty in the Rp 35 billion State Logistics
\nAgency (Bulog) scandal when he resigned Monday night, saying that
\nhe was just being used as an intermediate target before the
\npresident.<\/p>\n
In an extraordinary twist to what has become known as
\n"Bulogate", Bondan who also holds the post of Secretary of
\nGovernment Supervision, told journalists that the president has
\naccepted the resignation.<\/p>\n
"I resign...Because I believe that the attacks against me are
\nmerely an intermediate target towards Gus Dur," he said referring
\nto President Abdurrahman Wahid by his popular nickname.<\/p>\n
"I don't want to be a burden to him."<\/p>\n
In a hurriedly called press briefing at 10:30 p.m. at his
\noffice at the palace complex, Bondan said he had met the
\npresident to hand in his resignation at 8:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
"The president said he could understand," Bondan remarked.<\/p>\n
But Bondan was quick to underline that his resignation was not
\nan admission of guilt.<\/p>\n
"I know nothing about Bulogate," he asserted.<\/p>\n
Bondan allegedly received some part of the money. Earlier in
\nthe day he said that he already had professed his innocence and
\nsaid he was ready to explain the affair at any time.<\/p>\n
Bondan was only brought into the Cabinet in January. He
\nbecomes the sixth man to leave Abdurrahman's "resignation"
\nplagued Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Palace sources said Ministry of Religious Affairs' Research
\nand Development Chief Djohan Efendi is strongly tipped as the new
\nState Secretary, while Maj. Gen. (ret) Hari Darmawan is a strong
\ncandidate for Secretary of Government Supervision.<\/p>\n
Letter<\/p>\n
The scandal revolves around the disbursement of Rp 35 billion
\nfrom the Bulog employees-owned foundation Yanatera involving no
\nless than the president's masseur.<\/p>\n
In the latest revelation, lawyers for Bulog deputy chief
\nSapuan, one of the main suspects in the scandal, said he agreed
\nto disburse the funds because he believed he was acting under
\npresidential orders.<\/p>\n
"Sapuan met with President Abdurrahman on Jan. 7, on which
\ndate the President said he needed money totaling Rp 35 billion
\nfor humanitarian aid in Aceh," Sapuan's lawyer Isnul Tandjung
\nsaid at city police headquarters on Monday.<\/p>\n
Several days later, Isnul said Suwondo, known as the
\nPresident's masseur, met Sapuan and reminded the latter about the
\nPresident's request for Rp 35 billion.<\/p>\n
Suwondo, he said, also approached Sapuan with an official
\nletter from the State Secretariat stating that he was the
\n"President's private assistant". The letter was signed by
\nSuwondo.<\/p>\n
Isnul, however, did not explanation the contents of the
\nletter, nor why Sapuan believed the masseur.<\/p>\n
Bulog chief Rizal Ramli suspended Sapuan, who is now in police
\ncustody, in connection with the case.<\/p>\n
Suwondo, also a businessman, has been named one of the most
\nwanted suspects by police.<\/p>\n
Isnul said Sapuan asked Suwondo if a presidential decree was
\nrequired from Abdurrahman as a legal document for the
\ndisbursement of such a large amount of money from the agency.<\/p>\n
"The same request asking for the presidential decree also came
\nfrom (former Bulog chief) Yusuf Kalla. But Suwondo told him that
\nthe President felt it wasn't necessary," the lawyer said.<\/p>\n
"This is one reason why our client dared to give so much money
\nto Suwondo."<\/p>\n
Isnul referred to the scandal as masalah perut (money
\nproblem).<\/p>\n
"The Bulog deputy chief did not have the authority to reject
\nthe order because -- according to Indonesian tradition -- all
\norders made by supervisors have to be realized by their
\nsubordinates," he said.<\/p>\n
Separately on Monday, city police detectives for financial
\ncrimes questioned Yanatera chairman Mulyono.<\/p>\n
One of his lawyers, Sitti Maemunal Affendy, said Mulyono
\ndisbursed the fund based on Sapuan's order.<\/p>\n
"Sapuan is Mulyono's boss. Mulyono could have been fired if he
\nrefused to disburse the money," said Sitti, who is Mulyono's
\nwife.<\/p>\n
Mulyono's other lawyer, Musa Affendy, said they had enough
\nevidence to prove the disbursement of the money was under
\nSapuan's order.<\/p>\n
"The first of two memos here states that on the subject of
\nhumanitarian aid worth Rp 10 billion, the Yanatera chairman
\n(Mulyono) can disburse up to Rp 10 billion for the deed, signed
\nby Sapuan on Jan. 13," Musa said, quoting the memo.<\/p>\n
The second, signed on Jan. 21, states the same except for the
\namount which totals Rp 25 billion.<\/p>\n
On the same date, Suwondo signed an official stamped letter
\nfrom the agency which stated that he received four checks from
\nthe Yanatera foundation.<\/p>\n
The first two checks, each for Rp 5 billion, were issued by
\nBank Bukopin on Jan. 13. The other two were issued by the same
\nbank on Jan. 20 for Rp 10 billion and Rp 15 billion,
\nrespectively.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab on Monday
\nalso denied allegations he was involved in the scandal, saying
\nthe accusation was slanderous.<\/p>\n
"I'm clean. It (rumor) is all lies," Alwi told reporters after
\na plenary session of the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
He said he asked former trade and industry minister Yusuf
\nKalla about the case after hearing his name was linked to it.<\/p>\n
"I'm an ulema. I would never do things that would ruin my
\ncredibility," he said.(ylt\/jun\/bsr\/prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bondan-resigns-over-bulogate-1447893297",
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