Rendi A.Witular and
\nDamar Harsanto
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Curious about why one of former president Soeharto's closest
\naides, Bustanil Arifin, has not been seen wearing a dark blue
\ndetainee's uniform since he was taken into police custody on
\nWednesday?<\/p>\n
Because he is too big to wear the outfit.<\/p>\n
\"Police until now could not find the right size uniform for
\nBustanil, since he has a large-sized body,\" city police spokesman
\nSr. Com. Anton Bachrul Alam said.<\/p>\n
The simple assurance was given by Anton when asked by The
\nJakarta Post about the special treatment Bustanil, 73, a suspect
\nin a graft case, seems to be enjoying.<\/p>\n
Bustanil was held over the allegation of Rp 10 billion
\ncorruption in Bulog (the State Logistic Agency) when he assumed
\nthe agency's top post in 1990.<\/p>\n
On Monday, he wore a brown safari suit, attire generally
\nassociated with middle- to high-level civil servants.<\/p>\n
During his interrogation, in fact, Bustanil always wore batik
\nor safari outfits.<\/p>\n
An atmosphere worthy of home was seen at the detective unit's
\nwaiting room on Saturday, where at least 20 of Bustanil's family
\nmembers gathered at the 5-by-5-meter room. Some others were also
\nseen sitting at the lobby.<\/p>\n
In the room, there was an abundance of food and drink that had
\nbeen purchased at a major retailer, as seen on the plastic logo.<\/p>\n
A duty officer at the entrance of the lobby who witnessed the
\nscene said that several of Bustanil's family members, including
\nhis daughters, had spent the night at the room.<\/p>\n
Bustanil's family also enjoyed exclusive anonymity, when two
\nguard officers barred reporters from entering the lobby to ask
\nthe family members questions.<\/p>\n
One radio reporter said bitterly that the special treatment
\nwas more lavish than even that afforded Hutomo \"Tommy\" Mandala
\nPutra, a suspect in murder case.<\/p>\n
Tommy was also afforded many of the comforts of home when he
\nslept comfortably in the private office of a police officer in
\nthe first three days after his arrest. He wore a detainee's
\nuniform a day later, following an outcry from the media.<\/p>\n
Anton denied that the police gave a special treatment to
\nArifin, saying that anyone could have used the lobby and the
\nwaiting room at the detective's office as long as they wanted.
\nWhile reporters were free to enter the lobby.<\/p>\n
The guards prevented reporters from entering the lobby because
\nSaturday was a holiday, he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Bustanil's wife, R.A. Suhardani, was seen carrying
\nplastic bags bearing tissue paper and other sanitary products
\ntowards the detention chamber, although her husband was still
\nbeing questioned in the detectives' office.<\/p>\n
She was followed by her driver, who carried two large plastic
\nbags containing food, tissue papers, a carton of drinks, and
\nbiscuits.<\/p>\n
Sources said that Bustanil did not sleep in the detention
\nroom, but Anton dismissed it.<\/p>\n
\"He is in his cell, but until now, I haven't checked which
\ncell block he is staying in,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Since his detention, Bustanil has received many visitors
\nincluding many high-ranking officers and former officials,
\nespecially those associated with Soeharto's regime.<\/p>\n
On Monday, dozens of Bulog employees as well as former
\nminister of justice Ismail Saleh and former minister\/cabinet
\nsecretary Saadilah Mursyid visited him to express their sympathy
\nfor Bustanil. They also asked the police to change the detention
\nstatus to house arrest.<\/p>\n
That request, however, was rejected by the police.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rendi-awitular-and-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }