Gus Dur will not be summoned: Officer<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): While indicating that the police have secured
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid's written testimony, Jakarta Police
\nDetectives chief Sr. Supt. Harry Montolalu said on Thursday that
\nit was no more essential for the President to appear in court for
\nthe trial of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) scandal.<\/p>\n
\"We already have the President's statement, which had been
\ntaken under oath. He doesn't need to appear in court.<\/p>\n
\"This is only a 'small' case,\" Harry said after a meeting
\nbetween new Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Mulyono Sulaiman and
\nreporters at Pulau Dua restaurant in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman was questioned by police on June 23 over the
\nscandal in which he had been closely related to.<\/p>\n
The President has been named a witness in the case, which
\nallegedly involved his former masseur Alip Agung Suwondo. Suwondo
\nwas the one who allegedly took the Rp 35 billion (US$4 million)
\nfund belonging to Bulog employees foundation, Yanatera. The money
\nwas released upon the order of Bulog deputy chairman Sapuan.<\/p>\n
Suwondo, as claimed by Sapuan, acted on the President's behalf
\nafter the latter held a meeting with Sapuan and asked agency to
\nparticipate in a humanitarian program in the strife-torn Aceh
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Separately, Suwondo's lawyers insisted that their client was
\ninnocent, saying that the fund was simply a loan deal between
\nSuwondo and Sapuan.<\/p>\n
One of Suwondo's lawyers, Indra Sahnun Lubis, said Suwondo
\nfirst received two checks valued Rp 5 billion each from Sapuan on
\nJan. 5 as a gift over his help to get Sapuan appointed as Bulog
\ndeputy chief.<\/p>\n
\"Suwondo had never promised anything to Sapuan. He just told
\nSapuan to enchant several Koran phrases and to visit and give
\ndonation to certain Muslim boarding schools. After being
\ninstalled as deputy chief, Sapuan gave the money as a present,\"
\nhe said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
However, he added, in a later conversation with Suwondo,
\nSapuan asked for an audience with Abdurrahman, better known as
\nGus Dur, hoping to become the Bulog's chief.<\/p>\n
\"Suwondo arranged the meeting but he promised Sapuan nothing.
\nBut, Sapuan later told him that during the meeting Gus Dur asked
\nwhether some of Bulog funds can be used for humanitarian aids in
\nAceh.\"<\/p>\n
Few days later, Suwondo asked for a Rp 25 billion loan from
\nSapuan to expand a plantation business in Puncak area, West Java,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
On Jan. 15, Sapuan came over to bring the checks and a receipt
\nwhich was then signed by Suwondo stating that he owed Sapuan a Rp
\n35 billion.<\/p>\n
Indra said Sapuan apparently gave the money to Suwondo in
\nreturn to his help to get Sapuan promoted as Bulog chairman.<\/p>\n
Indra argued that his client was \"too naive\" to question where
\nwas the money from and why the first Rp 10 billion should be
\nconsidered a loan instead of a gift. Suwondo had also failed to
\nnotice that Yanatera was stated in the checks.<\/p>\n
\"Apparently, it's Sapuan who abused my client. If it was said
\nthat Suwondo who had fooled Sapuan... how can a highly educated
\nperson can fully trust an ordinary man,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indra said the team of lawyers would ask the police to delay
\ndetention of Suwondo if the investigation failed to disclose that
\ntheir client had committed any crimes.<\/p>\n
A special committee of the House of Representatives had
\nearlier requested the police to let them questioned Suwondo
\nthemselves.<\/p>\n
However, Indra said that they would allow the House to
\nquestion Suwondo only if the committee could guarantee that the
\npolice investigation into his client be halted.<\/p>\n
Indra claimed that the case was a civil one because it centers
\naround a personal loan from Sapuan to Suwondo.<\/p>\n
Indra said Suwondo could not be netted by Article 460 of the
\nCriminal Code for keeping the money as his client had no idea
\nthat the money was belonging to Yanatera. (bby\/jaw)i<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-dur-will-not-be-summoned-officer-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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