Experts testify against Puteh in corruption case<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Experts testified at the graft trial of suspended Aceh Governor
\nAbdullah Puteh on Thursday and stated that the defendant violated
\nadministrative procedures in the purchase of a Russian-made
\nchopper and that the aircraft was indeed a used product.<\/p>\n
One witness, Sutrisno, a helicopter specialist from state-
\nowned aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia, told the
\nAnti-Corruption Court that the chopper was not a new aircraft as
\nhad been claimed by the Puteh camp to justify its high price tag.<\/p>\n
"I inspected the aircraft in July 2004 and found that the left
\nengine already had 1,518 flight hours and the right one 1,547
\nflight hours," he said.<\/p>\n
"About 500 hours were used after the plane arrived in
\nIndonesia, but the remaining 1,000 hours, which is roughly equal
\nto two years, were already recorded before the chopper had been
\nhanded over to the Aceh administration."<\/p>\n
Sutrisno explained that a new engine does not mean it has to
\nhave zero flight hours, but usually would be less than 25 flight
\nhours.<\/p>\n
Apart from that, it was not clear whether the helicopter was
\nindeed bullet-proof as was also claimed. The chopper did not have
\nany documents stating that it had bullet-proofing, the expert
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Another expert, Adriansyah, the director of expenses and
\nregional finance at the Ministry of Finance, told the court that
\nthe Aceh administration misused the Rp 9.1 billion that it paid
\nfor the helicopter.<\/p>\n
"The Rp 9.1 billion provided by 13 regencies and cities in
\nAceh was not supposed to be used to buy the helicopter. It was
\npart of "special treatment funds" from the central government for
\nregencies and cities in provinces to deal with natural disasters,
\nrefugees and riots," he said.<\/p>\n
The money should have also been allotted for routine
\nexpenditures, such as the payment of official salaries, added
\nAdriansyah.<\/p>\n
Puteh, being tried on charges of marking up the price of the
\nMI-2 helicopter, had said the chopper cost some Rp 12.6 billion,
\nincluding the Rp 9.1 billion from the 13 regental and municipal
\nadministration in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Another expert, Handoyo Sudrajat of the Development Finance
\nComptroller (BPKP), said the procedures in purchasing the
\nhelicopter contravened the financial administrative regulations.<\/p>\n
"According to the regulations, all revenues and expenditures
\nhave to go to the provincial cashier. So, the use of a personal
\naccount is against the procedures," Handoyo told the judges.<\/p>\n
Puteh had reportedly used his personal account to keep Rp 7.75
\nbillion before paying PT Putra Pobiagan Mandiri (PPM), the broker
\nin the helicopter purchase.<\/p>\n
However, the suspended governor apparently returned Rp 3.6
\nbillion of the Rp 7.75 billion to the provincial cashier after
\nthe Corruption Eradication Commission started the probe into his
\ncase.<\/p>\n
Handoyo also said that based on the Aceh cashier's records,
\nPuteh had caused Rp 13.7 billion in losses to the state over the
\npurchase of the chopper, but since he had returned the Rp 3.6
\nbillion, the losses decreased to Rp 10.1 billion.<\/p>\n
Puteh's lawyers rejected the statements by Adriansyah and
\nHandoyo, saying the two experts had no knowledge of the subjects
\nthey had testified about.<\/p>\n
"Obviously Adriansyah is not an expert. He kept looking at his
\nfiles when the judges asked for his opinion, while Handoyo was
\nnot the person who audited the province's balance sheet," said
\nO.C. Kaligis, the chief lawyer for Puteh. (006)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/experts-testify-against-puteh-in-corruption-case-1447893297",
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