Presidential guards spent Rp 2.2b of Bulog funds<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A former chief of the presidential guards testified on Tuesday
\nthat former chief of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) Rahardi
\nRamelan had granted his request for Rp 2.2 billion, which was
\ntaken from the agency's non-budgetary fund.<\/p>\n
Maj. Gen. Suwandi told the South Jakarta District Court on
\nTuesday that he spent the money to buy ammunition, metal
\ndetectors and other equipment as well as to build garages to
\nhouse several cars for state guests.<\/p>\n
He said that he asked Rahardi for the money because he had a
\nclose relationship with former president B.J. Habibie.<\/p>\n
\"He had a close relationship with Pak Habibie and he was
\nconcerned about the safety of Pak Habibie as president therefore
\nI requested the fund from him.\"<\/p>\n
Suwandi, who now serves as a lecturer at the Indonesian
\nDefense Institute (Lemhanas), admitted that he asked Rahardi, who
\nwas then also the minister of industry and trade, for the money
\non three occasions.<\/p>\n
Rahardi's aide, Bustan Jufri, handed over a total of Rp 2.2
\nbillion to the presidential guard's assistant for logistics in
\nthree lots on Feb. 12, May 5 and Sept. 27, 1999.<\/p>\n
Suwandi said that he had given written reports to the military
\nheadquarters about the use of the money. He also said that he had
\ntold Habibie about it.<\/p>\n
Rahardi, in response to Suwandi's statement, claimed that the
\nwitness had asked him for some money by phone.<\/p>\n
\"I recognized your voice,\" Rahardi said.<\/p>\n
But Suwandi replied, \"I never made a phone call. I've always
\nmade written requests when I asked any party for some money.\"<\/p>\n
Rahardi is on trial for the alleged misappropriation of Rp
\n62.9 billion of Bulog's non-budgetary fund in 1999. Some Rp 40
\nbillion went to then state secretary\/minister Akbar Tandjung.
\nAnother Rp 10 billion went to Gen. Wiranto, then minister of
\ndefense and TNI chief. The rest was used for various purposes,
\nincluding for the presidential guards and for the Indonesian
\nSwimming Association (PRSI) which was headed by Rahardi.<\/p>\n
In the hearing last week, Habibie testified via live video-
\nlinkup from Hamburg that he ordered Rahardi to disburse Rp 40
\nbillion for Akbar for a humanitarian project, and another Rp 10
\nbillion for Wiranto. But he said he knew nothing about the use of
\nthe other Rp 12.9 billion.<\/p>\n
Wiranto had earlier said that he spent the money to provide
\nsecurity for the 1999 General Session.<\/p>\n
Many believe that Akbar used the Rp 40 billion to campaign for
\nHabibie, who eventually lost his seat.<\/p>\n
Akbar, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and leader
\nof Golkar party, however, has denied the accusation.<\/p>\n
He is being tried separately on corruption charges.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/presidential-guards-spent-rp-22b-of-bulog-funds-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }