AGO to summon Raudlatul Jannah executives
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.