TNI chief's approval sought for questioning Ginandjar<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Former minister of mines and energy Ginandjar
\nKartasasmita, a suspect in graft cases involving state oil and
\ngas company Pertamina and a local partner, said on Tuesday that
\nhe is awaiting the Indonesian Military (TNI) chief's approval
\nprior to testifying before the prosecutors.<\/p>\n
\"I have been summoned to testify at the Attorney General's
\nOffice on Thursday (March 22, 2001).<\/p>\n
\"But, I have yet to receive approval from the TNI chief (which
\nis required) because I am a retired military officer but was
\nactive when the incident occurred,\" Ginandjar told a media
\nconference.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully, the TNI chief will give his approval tomorrow
\n(Wednesday),\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar, who is now deputy Speaker of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR), denied that he had committed any
\nwrongdoings during his term in Cabinet.<\/p>\n
\"I will testify to assist the investigation, but I cannot
\naccept being declared a suspect,\" he said, while citing that he
\nhas been summoned to testify as a witness.<\/p>\n
The Attorney General's Office has named Ginandjar and his
\nsuccessor IB Sudjana as suspects in corruption cases involving
\nPertamina, which allegedly resulted in US$24.8 million in state
\nlosses.<\/p>\n
The Office has previously named another two suspects in the
\nsame cases, including former Pertamina president Faisal Abda'oe
\nand PT Ustraindo director Praptono H. Hupojo, a relative of
\nformer first lady, the late Tien Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Attorney General's Office spokesman Muljohardjo said Ginandjar
\nis alleged to have illegally approved four technical assistance
\ncontracts between Pertamina and private oil company PT Ustraindo
\nPetrogas in early 1992 and 1993.<\/p>\n
\"Our investigations and witness' statements conclude that
\nGinandjar, as the minister of mines from 1988 until 1993 and
\nchief commissioner of Pertamina, approved the deals in violation
\nof regulations regarding technical assistance contracts for oil
\ndevelopment, causing $18 million in state losses,\" Muljohardjo
\nhas said.<\/p>\n
The spokesman said his office had found during its
\ninvestigations that the deals between Pertamina and PT Ustraindo
\nviolated regulations on technical assistance contracts because
\nthey covered oil fields which were still productive at the time.<\/p>\n
Moreover, while regulations required PT Ustraindo to pay the
\ncosts of oil development in the contract areas, it was Pertamina
\nwho actually bore the costs, Muljohardjo added.<\/p>\n
\"Sudjana, as the minister of mines and Pertamina's chief
\ncommissioner from 1993 to 1998 also breached laws by approving
\namendments to the contracts, resulting in losses of $6.8 million
\nto the state,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar, who is taking a break from a one-year overseas
\nlecture program, which commenced last August, dismissed the
\nallegations saying that he was only responsible for preparation
\nof the contracts, not their implementation.<\/p>\n
\"The Technical Assistance Contract (TAC) between Pertamina and
\nPT Ustraindo was part of the government's policy to improve our
\nnation's independence through the oil and gas sector.<\/p>\n
\"And I was not involved in the implementation of the
\ncontracts,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The contracts with PT Ustraindo covered oil fields in Bunyu,
\nE. Kalimantan; Prabumulih and Pendopo in South Sumatra; and
\nJatibarang on the north coast of West Java.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar, a retired three-star Air Force general, suggested
\nthat he is the target of a political conspiracy.<\/p>\n
\"I have been accused of supplying arms to the Maluku province
\nand financing unrest in several parts of the country.<\/p>\n
\"The accusations are groundless and I have proof that I have
\nbeen active in academic activities in the United States and
\nJapan,\" he said. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tni-chiefs-approval-sought-for-questioning-ginandjar-1447893297",
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