Rahardi turns self in, begins serving jail term<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Before surrendering to prosecutors to serve a two-year prison
\nsentence for corruption, Rahardi Ramelan, 65, spent his last free
\nmoments exchanging hugs, tears and farewells with about 30
\nfriends and family members at an upmarket cafe on Monday.<\/p>\n
He tried his best to explain to his five-year-old grandson,
\nwho lives in the same house as him, what going to jail meant.<\/p>\n
\"I have to go for a while, but I'll be back,\" he said. \"Take
\ncare of Grandma for me.\"<\/p>\n
Rahardi, who was convicted for misappropriating Rp 5 billion
\n(US$ 510,000) while leading the State Logistics Agency (Bulog)
\nseven years ago, then headed to the South Jakarta Prosecutor's
\nOffice to turn himself in.<\/p>\n
Once there, the former minister of industry and trade in the
\nHabibie administration transferred from his shiny Toyota Land
\nCruiser to a wornout government car that shuttled him to Cipinang
\nPenitentiary in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"I commend him for coming here voluntarily, he is setting a
\ngood example for other convicted felons,\" said South Jakarta
\nprosecutor Iskamto.<\/p>\n
The Supreme Court in October 2004 upheld Rahardi's two-year
\nsentence handed down by the lower courts in 2002 and 2003
\nrespectively.<\/p>\n
Iskamto said that although the Supreme Court ruled on the case
\n10 months ago, his office had only received a copy of the ruling
\non Monday. Without a copy, his office was unable to execute the
\nsentence.<\/p>\n
Rahardi expressed hope that due to time already served while
\nhe was on trial and remissions for good behavior that he would be
\nfree within 10 months.<\/p>\n
\"I am tired of the four-year ordeal, I just want to get it
\nover with,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Despite going to prison, Rahardi, who also served briefly in
\nformer president Soeharto's Cabinet, continued to maintain his
\ninnocence.<\/p>\n
\"I have been sacrificed in a political scheme,\" he said. \"It
\nsickens me that the true culprits are able to look in the mirror
\nand still laugh.\"<\/p>\n
Although Rahardi refrained from naming anybody, his lawyer,
\nTrimoelja Soerjadi, was more blunt.<\/p>\n
\"The one who should be in jail is Akbar Tandjung,\" he said.
\n\"The Supreme Court has used double standards.\"<\/p>\n
He was referring to the Supreme Court overturning last year a
\nthree-year prison sentence in a Rp 40 billion corruption case,
\nalso involving Bulog funds, handed to the former speaker of the
\nHouse of Representatives, Akbar.<\/p>\n
During Rahardi's trial, it was revealed that he authorized the
\ndisbursement of Rp 40 billion from nonbudgetary Bulog funds to
\nAkbar Tandjung. The funds were earmarked for a food program for
\nthe poor, but never reached their intended recipients.<\/p>\n
The revelation led to a separate corruption trial for Akbar,
\nwho was then also leader of the Golkar Party. The Central Jakarta
\nDistrict Court handed Akbar a three-year prison sentence, which
\nwas upheld by the Jakarta High Court.<\/p>\n
However, Akbar's sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court,
\ndespite upholding the guilty verdicts of two of his colleagues.
\n(002)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rahardi-turns-self-in-begins-serving-jail-term-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}