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.