Witness says Bulog fund used for many activities<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The non-budgetary fund of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog)
\nwas disbursed for many reasons -- including scholarships for
\nswimming athletes -- a former deputy of finance for the agency
\ntestified at the corruption trial of former Bulog chief Rahardi
\nRamelan on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"The fund was meant to manage basic commodity stability, but
\nit was used to finance various activities as requested by many
\nparties under the approval of Bulog's chief,\" Ahmad Ruskandar
\ntold the South Jakarta District Court.<\/p>\n
\"While Pak Rahardi was chief, we disbursed funds to the
\nPresidential guard, (former Indonesian Military chief) Pak
\nWiranto, and Pak Akbar (Tandjung),\" he said.<\/p>\n
It was also given out \"for the development of a science
\nbuilding -- and even to provide scholarships for swimming
\nathletes, as Pak Rahardi was chairman of the Indonesian Swimming
\nFederation,\" he added.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that Bulog has two balance sheets. The first
\nwas for budgetary funds, or the formal balance sheet, while the
\nsecond was for the non-budgetary fund.<\/p>\n
The state audit board (BPKP) had warned Bulog twice in 1999 to
\nmerge the funds onto one balance sheet to avoid the possibility
\nof embezzlement, but Bulog ignored it, Ruskandar said.<\/p>\n
It was not until June 2, 2000 that Bulog began to audit its
\nnon-budgetary fund when Rizal Ramli became the chief.<\/p>\n
Rahardi is on trial for his alleged involvement in the
\nembezzlement of a total of Rp 62.5 billion (US$6.25 million) in
\nBulog non-budgetary funds during his term between 1998 and 1999.<\/p>\n
Ruskandar also admitted that Rahardi had ordered him to pay Rp
\n40 billion to Akbar, who was then State Minister\/Cabinet
\nMinister.<\/p>\n
\"I handed the checks twice directly to Pak Akbar in his
\nCentral Jakarta office. I had asked for a receipt, but he said
\nthat he would give it to me later,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that, while he received the receipt, Akbar asked for
\nit back later on.<\/p>\n
Another witness, Jusnadi Suwarta, who was the then-head of
\nBulog's finance bureau, supported Ruskandar's testimony, saying
\nthat Akbar had obtained the checks directly from Ruskandar.<\/p>\n
Both Jusnadi and Ruskandar have been named as suspects in the
\ncase, while Akbar, now the House Speaker, is currently on trial
\nat the Central Jakarta District Court.<\/p>\n
Asked whether he accepted Ruskandar's testimony, Rahardi
\nreplied, \"I accept any statements which are not against me.\"<\/p>\n
Clad in a green suit, Rahardi looked relaxed during the
\nhearing. He laughed several times when Ruskandar appeared nervous
\nanswering questions from judges, prosecutors, and lawyers.<\/p>\n
Rahardi's wife, daughter and several relatives, on the other
\nhand, wept when they heard that Rahardi's request for house
\narrest was denied.<\/p>\n
The panel of judges, consisting of Lalu Mariyun, IDG Putra
\nJadnya and Abdul Madjid Rahim, said that they were still
\nconsidering the request.<\/p>\n
Rahardi is currently being held at Cipinang Penitentiary, East
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
The scandal has drawn considerable public attention, as it
\nimplicated Akbar. It was believed that Akbar first obtained the
\nRp 40 billion upon former president B.J. Habibie's order to
\nfinance Golkar's campaign during the 1999 election.<\/p>\n
Akbar, however, claimed that it was used for a charitable
\nprogram.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/witness-says-bulog-fund-used-for-many-activities-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}