More support pours in for Bulogate probe<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A group of students expressed support for the
\nHouse of Representatives to carry on its inquiry into financial
\nscandals linked to President Abdurrahman Wahid, asking the House
\nto continue the investigation during the next recess which begins
\non Monday.<\/p>\n
The students, grouped under the Student and Youth Committee
\nfor Justice (Kampud), told a hearing with the House special
\ncommittee assigned to examine the issue, on Tuesday, that a long
\nbreak would open up chances for backroom deals and money
\npolitics.<\/p>\n
\"It would be better for the committee to keep working during
\nthe recess so that its investigation could be completed by the
\nend of this year. Frankly speaking, we are skeptical of the
\ncommittee's commitment to investigate the scandals thoroughly if
\nit involves lobbying and secret deals with third parties for out-
\nof-court settlements,\" Edy Humaidy, Kampud's coordinator, said.<\/p>\n
He insisted that the special committee was serious in its
\ninvestigation into the Bulog and Brunei scandals, and will
\nconduct its job fairly.<\/p>\n
\"The special committee must grill Suwondo, the main suspect in
\nthe Bulog scam, and the President, to unveil their involvement in
\nthe scandal,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In his testimony before the committee recently, former
\nNational Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo reportedly implicated the
\nPresident in the scandal, which centered upon the withdrawal of
\nRp 35 billion belonging to a foundation set up by employees of
\nthe State Logistics Agency (Bulog).<\/p>\n
Ade Komaruddin, the special committee's deputy chairman, said
\nthe committee could not comply with the students' demand for
\nextra work during recess, but vowed to avoid any backroom deal.<\/p>\n
\"The special committee will comply with the House's scheduled
\nrecess and will complete the investigation in time. The committee
\nmembers should be closely monitored by the press in order to
\navoid the occurrence of backroom deals,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Julius Usman, another deputy chairman of the special
\ncommittee, reiterated that the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan) was committed to investigating the two
\nscandals.<\/p>\n
\"The PDI Perjuangan faction is seeking the truth in these
\nscandals. If the President is involved, our faction will support
\na further investigation by the police into the scandals,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Rusdihardjo<\/p>\n
Separately, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Saleh Saaf
\nsuggested that the former National Police chief Rusdihardjo
\nshould clarify his account which implicated the President in the
\nBulog scam.<\/p>\n
\"That is not police business. If this case needs to be
\nclarified, Pak Rusdihardjo should come to his institution
\n(police) to clarify the problem himself,\" Saleh told reporters,
\nadding that Rusdihardjo had been speaking as an individual before
\nthe special committee.<\/p>\n
Saleh said that the police had no intention to summon
\nRusdihardjo in connection with his shocking testimony.<\/p>\n
\"We only heard it from newspapers. Unless the special
\ncommittee gives us an official report (on Rusdihardjo's
\nstatement) we can only regard it as rumor,\" Saleh said.<\/p>\n
When being asked if the police would summon Rusdihardjo,
\nfollowing a lawsuit filed by businesswoman Siti Farikha to
\nNational Police Headquarters, Saleh said that the police would
\nforward the report to the military police headquarters.<\/p>\n
\"(The police) received (the report) in order not to disappoint
\nthe party who filed the report,\" Saleh said.<\/p>\n
Siti Farikha filed a report on Rusdihardjo on Monday saying
\nthat Rusdihardjo had defamed her.<\/p>\n
Bisa dipotong<\/p>\n
Separately, Jakarta Police Criminal Investigation chief Sr.
\nSupt. Harry Montolalu denied knowledge over the existence of a
\ndifferent dossier on the questioning of President Abdurrahman
\nWahid over the case on June 24 this year.<\/p>\n
\"There is only one dossier (on the President's questioning)
\nwhich is currently being used by the court. The dossier states
\nthat the president is not involved in the scandal,\" Harry said.<\/p>\n
Taking place at the presidential palace, the team of
\ninvestigators from the Jakarta Police were escorted by several
\ntop-brass officers, including then National Police chief Gen.
\nRusdihardjo, then National Police Criminal Investigation chief
\nBrig. Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail, then Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen.
\nNurfaizi, then Jakarta Police Criminal Investigation chief Sr.
\nSupt. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo and the newly appointed Harry.<\/p>\n
Harry said that before the questioning, Rusdihardjo, Nurfaizi
\nand Chaeruddin entered the President's office and were in there
\nfor about 20 minutes.<\/p>\n
\"I don't know what they were talking about,\" Harry said.<\/p>\n
After that, he and Alex had been asked to enter the room and
\nthe President had asked the two to question him rather than the
\nteam of investigators. (jaw\/rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/more-support-pours-in-for-bulogate-probe-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}