Puteh caused no state losses: Expert<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
An expert testifying in the trial of Abdullah Puteh told the
\nAnticorruption Court in Central Jakarta on Monday that no losses
\nhad been inflicted on the state in the purchase of a Russian-made
\nhelicopter because the transaction had not been completed.<\/p>\n
\"There is no way we can calculate state losses, or even
\nrevenue, if a project has not been completed,\" said Suyatna Sunu
\nSubrata, a former deputy of special investigations at the
\nDevelopment Finance Comptroller (BPKP).<\/p>\n
Abdullah Puteh has been suspended as governor of Nanggroe Aceh
\nDarussalam for alleged corruption in the helicopter purchase.<\/p>\n
The BPKP previously filed an audit report on the transaction,
\nsaying that the Aceh administration had disbursed some Rp 13.6
\nbillion (US$1.48 million) for the purchase of an MI-2 helicopter.
\nThe audit agency said that in comparison, the Indonesian Navy
\nonly paid Rp 6 billion for the same type of helicopter, thus
\nraising suspicion of a markup in the transaction.<\/p>\n
Suyatna, an accounting expert, said that since the contract
\nbetween the Aceh administration and PT Putra Pobiagan Mandiri
\n(PPM), the broker in the deal, had not been finalized, the BPKP
\naudit was invalid.<\/p>\n
Puteh and other Aceh administration officials said in previous
\ntestimonies that the administration was withholding a Rp 562
\nmillion payment to PPM because PPM had not completed its
\nobligation to train pilots for the chopper, which has been
\ndelivered.<\/p>\n
Suyatna said that the BPKP had also made a mistake by
\nexcluding the value of the chopper in calculating the state's
\nlosses.<\/p>\n
A BPKP official previously said that it had excluded the value
\nof the chopper when calculating state losses because of improper
\npurchasing procedures, such as the transaction being included in
\nthe provincial budget, and some of the funds came from all 13
\nregencies in the province.<\/p>\n
\"Procedures are a way of doing things, while prices are things
\nattached to items. They're different things. Even rubble has a
\nprice; how come a helicopter has none?\" said the 75-year-old
\nSuyatna.<\/p>\n
Puteh was initially charged with causing Rp 13.6 billion in
\nstate losses. Since he returned Rp 3.6 billion to the
\nadministration, the losses were reduced to Rp 10.6 billion. He
\ncould face a life sentence or a Rp 1 billion fine if convicted.<\/p>\n
The prosecution objected to Suyatna being used as an expert
\nwitness, since he has been retired for 13 years.<\/p>\n
\"For the record, we reject all of the expert's statements
\nbecause he no longer understands how to calculate state losses,\"
\nKhaidir Ramli, the chief prosecutor, said.<\/p>\n
Suyatna's testimony contradicted previous testimony given by
\nan expert for the prosecution, Handoyo Sudrajat, who was
\nSuyatna's subordinate at the BPKP.<\/p>\n
Puteh's lawyers, for their part, summoned Suyatna to prove
\nthat the case against their client was weak.<\/p>\n
\"If this case is based on the auditing report, why did they
\naudit when the project had not been completed? Moreover, how can
\nthere be a trial if the report is invalid?\" queried one of
\nPuteh's lawyers, Rocky Awondatu. (006)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/puteh-caused-no-state-losses-expert-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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