AGO to summon Raudlatul Jannah executives
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak and I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Attorney General's Office (AGO) is to summon the organizers of the Raudlatul Jannah Islamic Foundation in connection with the misappropriation of Rp 54.6 billion from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), an official said on Friday.
The office's spokesman, Muljohardjo, said that in accordance with the existing investigation procedures, any other persons identified during the interviews would also be summoned for clarification and cross checks.
"Off course the state prosecutors will summon the organizers of the foundation to hear their clarification of their involvement in the alleged graft case," he told The Jakarta Post by phone.
He said the state prosecutors had yet to set a schedule.
House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tanjung, in Wednesday's questioning on his capacity as a witness, said the foundation had received the Rp 40 billion fund to finance a government project to buy basic commodities for the poor in 1999.
Akbar said the foundation, chaired by Dadang Sukandar, was appointed to run the project because of its experience in handling humanitarian projects and that it was recommended by the former Coordinating Minister of Social Welfare and Poverty Eradication Haryono Suyono.
Haryono, who was grilled on Thursday, reiterated his ignorance on the foundation's existence.
The prime suspect in the Rp 54.6 billion scandal, former Bulog chief Rahardi Ramelan, revealed that Rp 40 billion of that money went to Akbar, while another Rp 10 billion went to the Ministry of Defense and Security, which was presided over by Gen. (ret.) Wiranto, the former military chief.
Not much is known about the foundation and an address at Kompleks DPR II/6, Batusari, Kebun Jeruk in West Jakarta, given to prosecutors by Akbar, is a deserted house.
Reports revealed that there is a foundation with the same name with offices located in an alley at Jl. Petojo Enclek II, South Petojo, Central Jakarta.
Its chairman, Dadang Sukandar, is known by residents as an employee of the Bimantara group, a company partly-owned by former president Soeharto's son Bambang Trihatmodjo.
Meanwhile, in Tuban, Bali, Akbar denied allegations on Friday that he had made up the existence of the foundation to cover up his involvement in the alleged corruption case.
Yet, he stopped short of explaining the statement made by Haryono Suyono that had contradicted his earlier statement.
"I didn't make it up. The evidence has shown that the foundation exists, that it has an office and an address. I have already explained that to the Attorney General's Office, and in due time the foundation executives will also be questioned on the matter," he said.