Sapuan reads defense in tears<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The former deputy head of State Logistics Agency
\n(Bulog) broke into tears as he read out his defense statement at
\nthe South Jakarta District Court, saying that he had sacrificed
\nhimself for the head of state in a bid to unite the nation.<\/p>\n
Sapuan, 67, is facing a possible 18-year jail term for
\nallegedly embezzling Rp 35 billion (US$3.6 million) belonging to
\nYanatera, the foundation of Bulog employees.<\/p>\n
The defendant had admitted allowing President Abdurrahman
\nWahid's masseur Alip Agung Suwondo to withdraw the money in
\nJanuary last year because Suwondo told him that the President
\nneeded the funds for humanitarian aid in Aceh.<\/p>\n
"I sacrificed myself to help you Pak Kyai (Leader of Islam,
\nreferring to President Abdurrahman Wahid) unite the nation, but I
\nhave, in fact, been sacrificed as part of a conspiracy," Sapuan
\nsaid in his personal defense entitled Pledoi Sang Tumbal (Defense
\nof the Victim).<\/p>\n
Sapuan has denied any wrongdoing, saying that he disbursed the
\nmoney in the belief that it was requested by the President.<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives earlier this month asked the
\nNational Police chief and the Attorney General's Office to take
\nlegal action against President Abdurrahman for his alleged
\ninvolvement in the case. The President said this week he was
\nready for questioning, but the police said that they had no plans
\nto question Gus Dur, pending the result of the trials in the
\ncase. Police also said that an investigation in June indicated
\nthat he was not involved.<\/p>\n
Suwondo, who has spent several months in hiding since news of
\nthe scandal broke in April last year, is being tried in North
\nJakarta District Court.<\/p>\n
As Sapuan was crying, the reading of his defense was
\ncontinued by lawyer Muhammad Assegaf.<\/p>\n
Assegaf blamed the prosecutors for lack of courage in
\ndemanding the President to testify in the trial.<\/p>\n
"Abdurrahman Wahid has ignored a good opportunity to clarify
\nthings related to him in this case," he said.<\/p>\n
He said that the court needed his testimony to decide whether
\nor not Sapuan was guilty.<\/p>\n
"All witnesses during the hearing mentioned the name of
\nAbdurrahman Wahid, how could the court relate and compile all
\nwitnesses' testimony systematically without examining the
\nPresident?" Assegaf questioned.<\/p>\n
Responding to the prosecution, Assegaf said there was no
\nreason for Sapuan not to trust Suwondo because he was the agent
\nwho arranged Sapuan's meeting with President on Jan. 7 last year.<\/p>\n
According to Assegaf, part of the prosecutors' indictment was
\ninaccurate, incorrect and was based on wrongly held assumptions.<\/p>\n
As an example, he said, prosecutors stated that Sapuan met
\nSuwondo as the President's trustee in 1998. "The fact was that
\nSapuan met Suwondo in December, 1999 and Abdurrahman Wahid had
\nnot become President in 1998," Assegaf said.<\/p>\n
Presiding judge Lalu Mariyun adjourned the hearing until Feb.
\n27 to hear prosecutors' counter statements against the defense.
\n(01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sapuan-reads-defense-in-tears-1447893297",
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