Akbar testifies against Rahardi in Bulog scam case

Akbar testifies against Rahardi in Bulog scam case

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung attempted to spread the blame to
several former state officials involved in the high-profile
scandal over State Logistics Agency (Bulog) funds when he
testified against former Bulog chief Rahardi Ramelan on Tuesday.

Akbar, who is also being tried separately in the same case,
claimed that former president BJ Habibie had ordered him to be
the coordinator of a charity project during a meeting at the
State Palace with Habibie, Rahardi and former coordinating
minister for social welfare and poverty eradication Haryono
Suyono, on Feb. 10, 1999.

Rahardi, who was also trade and industry minister in the
Habibie administration, is on trial for the alleged misuse of
Bulog funds, which cost the state a total of Rp 62.9 billion.

"The special program was Bapak president's initiative. He
ordered the Bulog chief to disburse Rp 40 billion to finance the
program aimed at helping the poor during the economic crisis in
1999," Akbar told the South Jakarta District Court.

When presiding judge Lalu Mariyun asked him why he directly
appointed the Raudlatul Jannah Foundation to manage the project,
he said, "There was a memo from the welfare minister when the
foundation submitted its proposal. The memo expressed a kind of
preference. I was also satisfied about the foundation's
experience in distributing food for the poor."

Akbar also said Bulog was responsible for continuing the
program after he resigned in May 1999 as he became the Golkar
Party leader during the election campaign.

"I did not tell my successor, Mr. Muladi, about the program as
I had resigned before my term had finished," said Akbar, who
looked a little bit confused in answering the question.

His lawyer, Amir Syamsuddin, occasionally shook his head
during Akbar's testimony. Akbar's wife, Krisnina Maharani,
attended the hearing as well.

After the hearing, Rahardi was observed avoiding Akbar. But
they eventually shook hands after photographers asked them to.

Instead of monitoring the project, Akbar admitted that he had
assigned his subordinate, Mahdar, to do it. Mahdar, Akbar
claimed, reported to him that the project had been carried out in
East Java.

"Mahdar said he had no idea when I asked him about the report
that the foundation had repaid the funds to the Attorney
General's Office. I believed him," said Akbar, who is the
chairman of Golkar, the second-largest political party here.

The office revealed later that the charity project had not
taken place. Contractor of the project Winfried Simatupang, in a
bizarre move, returned all of the funds to the office. He and
foundation chairman Dadang Ruskandar become codefendants in
Akbar's trial.

Many have alleged that the Rp 40 billion in funds was used to
finance Golkar's campaign in the 1999 general election.

If convicted, Akbar, Rahardi, Dadang and Winfried could be
sentenced to 20 years in jail.

Meanwhile, Judge Lalu looked offended when Rahardi's new chief
defense lawyer Trimoelja D. Soerjadi asked for his release from
detention for the duration of the trial on a guarantee from
Rahardi's wife Tumbu Tri Iswari Astiani and daughter Dian Kunti
Sintorini.

"Why has the release issue became so important? The media
reported that the defendant's family attempted to bribe us with
Rp 5 or Rp 6 billion to meet the request. For God's sake, we have
never received any payment. Whether we approve or reject the
request, it's not because of money," Judge Lalu said loudly
before the court.

Rahardi hired a new team of lawyers to defend him, reportedly
because the previous one had failed to secure his release from
detention. Lawyers Trimoelja, H. Hutabarat, J. Kamaru and Frans
Hendra Winata replaced the previous team, which included lawyers
O.C. Kaligis, and Yan Juanda Saputra.

The court was adjourned until next week as Rahardi stated he
was unwell. Akbar is scheduled to continue his testimony.