JP\/1\/AKBAR<\/p>\n
Rp 32.5 billion Bulog money returned: AGO<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
The high-profile financial scandal involving House of
\nRepresentatives speaker Akbar Tandjung took a peculiar turn when
\nit was revealed Saturday that one of the case's primary suspects
\nhad returned Rp 32.5 billion of the funds allegedly swindled
\nbefore he was detained on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Attorney General's Office spokesman Barman Zahir revealed that
\nWinfried Simatupang, the contractor hired to disperse food
\npackages bought with Rp 40 billion from the State Logistics
\nAgency (Bulog), had returned the money to investigators last
\nweek.<\/p>\n
Barman said Winfried promised to return the remaining amount
\nby the end of the month.<\/p>\n
The money was now kept in a Bank Mandiri account belonging to
\nthe Attorney General's Office.<\/p>\n
According to Barman, Winfried told investigators that he still
\nhad possession of the money, but fell short of outrightly
\nadmitting that the food distribution program never existed.<\/p>\n
The revelation made by the Attorney General's Office comes
\njust 48-hours after Akbar and Winfried were thrown into a
\ndetention cell.<\/p>\n
There was no clear explanation why prosecutors had only now
\nmade this important development public, saying only that it was
\npart of the investigative strategy.<\/p>\n
Barman insisted that the return of the funds would not alter
\nthe case against suspects Winfried, Akbar or Dadang Sukandar, the
\nchairman of Raudlatul Jannah Foundation which hired Winfried to
\ndisburse food packages for those most affected by the economic
\ncrisis in 1999.<\/p>\n
\"This will not erase the crime committed ... the three
\nsuspects will remain in detention,\" Barman said.<\/p>\n
However, he conceded that it could be a mitigating
\ncircumstance in the eventual sentencing if the suspects are found
\nguilty.<\/p>\n
Barman also claimed that the dossiers on all three would be
\nready by the end of this month.<\/p>\n
The detention of Akbar on Thursday was a pinnacle in
\ninvestigations into the multi-billion rupiah scandal which has
\nalso shocked the mighty Golkar Party, throwing it into some
\ndisarray.<\/p>\n
The scandal centers on the disbursement of Rp 40 billion for
\nrelief assistance to the poor in 1999. It is alleged that the
\nmoney found its way into Golkar coffers, or was even divided for
\ncampaign funds by major political parties.<\/p>\n
Akbar, who at the time was Minister\/State Secretary, had been
\ngiven the green light by then President B.J. Habibie to disburse
\nthe funds for food.<\/p>\n
While he admits to having attended a presentation held by
\nDadan and Winfried on plans for the distribution of food, Akbar
\nmaintains that he knew little of the follow-up process.<\/p>\n
But counter testimony from Akbar's own colleagues has raised
\ndoubts over the Golkar Party's statements.<\/p>\n
Akbar has had to recant his initial claim that he did not know
\nthe amount of funds involved, and former Golkar colleague Haryono
\nSuyono rejected Akbar's statement that it was he who recommended
\nDadan's foundation carry out the project.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile the glut of high-profile figures, mostly from
\nGolkar, visiting Akbar continued on Saturday despite a sign
\nposted saying that visits were only allowed on Monday, Wednesday,
\nand Friday.<\/p>\n
Among them were Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare
\nJusuf Kalla, former minister of justice Oetojo Oesman, former
\nminister of social affairs Anak Agung Gede Agung and Golkar board
\nof patron's member Cosmas Batubara.<\/p>\n
Akbar's wife Krisnina Maharani also visited accompanied by
\nGolkar legislators Komariah Kuncoro and Evita Asmalda.<\/p>\n
Krisnina refused to speak to journalists but Komariah noted
\nthat Akbar \"looks exhausted\".<\/p>\n
Akbar's daughter Triana Krisna, still dressed in her junior-
\nhigh school uniform, also paid a visit bringing a cake for her
\nfather.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp1akbar-1447899208",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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