Former Dolog chief arrested over rice scam<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): After an intensive two-week investigation which
\nincluded the questioning of 49 witnesses, the Jakarta Police
\nfinally arrested Ahmad Zawawi, the former head of the Jakarta
\nLogistics Agency (Dolog Jaya), early on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Chief of the Jakarta Police detectives unit Col. Gories Mere
\nsaid on Thursday there was sufficient evidence of Zawawi's
\nalleged role in illegally providing rice delivery orders to
\nunlisted distributors and the planned unlawful export of 1,900
\nmetric tons of rice to Kuching in Sarawak, Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Based on the evidence gathered and witness testimony, the 56-
\nyear-old retired army colonel would likely be charged with
\ncorruption and subversion carrying a maximum penalty of death,
\nGories said. Zawawi was first questioned on Sept. 9.<\/p>\n
While completing the dossiers on the case and in their attempt
\nto collect more information, the city police also plans to summon
\nZawawi's supervisor, Beddu Amang, who was replaced as chairman of
\nthe State Logistics Agency (Bulog) last month.<\/p>\n
\"To further round out our material evidence, we'll summon
\nBeddu Amang soon (for questioning),\" Gories told the media.<\/p>\n
Beddu abruptly left his three-year tenure on Aug. 26. He is
\nnow an expert staff adviser for the distribution of basic
\ncommodities at the Coordinating Ministry for Economy, Finance and
\nIndustry.<\/p>\n
According to Gories, Zawawi, who was formerly questioned as a
\nwitness in the two cases, was officially named a suspect and
\ndetained at the Jakarta Police headquarters at the first stroke
\nof Thursday.<\/p>\n
Before making the decision, the police questioned Zawawi for
\nabout 10 hours on Wednesday, the officer said.<\/p>\n
Zawawi, who served about five months as Dolog Jaya head, could
\nbe charged under articles 1 and 28 of Law No. 3\/1971 on
\ncorruption and Article 1 Law No. 11\/1963 on the controversial
\nsubversion law.<\/p>\n
Many, including President B.J. Habibie and the Armed Forces
\n(ABRI), have said the subversion statute needs to be reviewed
\nbecause it was too ambiguous and could be abused by the
\ngovernment to defend its own interests.<\/p>\n
Shortly after replacing Soeharto as president in May, Habibie
\npledged to abolish the subversion law, arguing it was often used
\nby the government against the people.<\/p>\n
But the arrest of Zawawi has apparently satisfied many
\nJakartans, particularly low-income families, who have faced
\ndifficulties in purchasing the staple food in recent months due
\nto skyrocketing prices and its scarcity.<\/p>\n
Many hope the authorities will continue to search for those
\nresponsible for rice scams.<\/p>\n
Asked to comment on Zawawi's arrest, Governor Sutiyoso said:
\n\"I agree with the police decision as long as the police has
\nenough evidence to prove his wrongdoing. The police can then
\nsubmit the case immediately to the prosecutor's office.\"<\/p>\n
Gories said Zawawi would not be released on bail or a
\nguarantee from his lawyers in accordance with the instructions of
\nJakarta Police Chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Noegroho has ordered us not to defer his arrest for any
\nreason so that we can complete the dossiers as soon as possible,\"
\nhe said. (emf\/ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/former-dolog-chief-arrested-over-rice-scam-1447893297",
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