Moerdiono questioned over Tommy's project<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Attorney General's Office grilled former
\nminister\/state secretary Moerdiono for more than two hours on
\nFriday over a questionable Rp 52.5 billion land deal in Jakarta
\ninvolving the youngest son of former president Soeharto, Hutomo
\nMandala Putra.<\/p>\n
Moerdiono was questioned over the sale of the National
\nLogistics Agency's (Bulog) property in Kelapa Gading, North
\nJakarta, in 1996 to PT Goro Batara Sakti, the giant supermarket
\nchain in which Tommy, as the businessman is popularly known,
\nowned some shares.<\/p>\n
"Bulog warehouses were moved because the vicinity had become a
\nresidential area, so it was no longer suitable for it," Moerdiono
\ntold reporters.<\/p>\n
The former key aide of Soeharto added that Bulog's delivery
\ntrucks had also caused problems for traffic in the area.<\/p>\n
"The land swap had Soeharto's permission and as a
\nminister\/state secretary my duty was only to convey that decision
\nto the concerned parties," Moerdiono said.<\/p>\n
Tommy has fallen under suspicion in the case and has been
\nbanned from leaving the country.<\/p>\n
The investigation focused on a contract Bulog signed to sell
\nits Kelapa Gading property to Goro. Under the exchange, the state
\nagency would receive a 63 hectare lot in Marunda, North Jakarta,
\nestimated to be worth Rp 52.5 billion.<\/p>\n
However, Bulog had only received eight hectares of the land
\nentitlement and the state agency had even forked out Rp 32.5
\nbillion for the property which should have been paid by Goro.<\/p>\n
In addition, Bulog also provided a guarantee for a Rp 20
\nbillion loan which Goro took out from Bank Bukopin to purchase
\nthe Marunda land.<\/p>\n
PT Goro Batara Sakti used to run two giant supermarkets in
\nKelapa Gading and on Jl. Pasar Minggu in South Jakarta. The Pasar
\nMinggu outlet was burnt down during the May riots and has not
\nreopened since.<\/p>\n
Tommy early last year sold his entire share in Goro to Puskud,
\na government cooperative.<\/p>\n
Also barred from making overseas travel are the other two main
\nfigures in the investigation: Ricardo Gelael of the Gelael
\nsupermarket chain, and Beddu Amang, the former Bulog chairman.<\/p>\n
Beddu was replaced in August amid growing accusations of gross
\ninefficiency and corruption within the state agency. (byg)<\/p>",
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