Beddu Amang detained over Bulog land scandal

Beddu Amang detained over Bulog land scandal

JAKARTA (JP): The state prosecutors placed former chief of the
State Logistics Agency (Bulog) Beddu Amang in the detention
center at the Attorney General Office's for 20 days, pending his
trial on charges of corruption in a land exchange deal.

The Jakarta Prosecutor's Office assistant for special crimes,
Andi Syarifuddin, said on Tuesday that the detention was made to
expedite legal proceedings of the case.

"The detention, which is effective until Dec. 17, is meant to
prevent the suspect from fleeing, destroying evidence or
committing similar crimes," he said at his office after receiving
the dossier, evidence and suspect from general prosecutor Fachmi.

Beddu's lawyer Jhon Wallerie expressed regret over the
detention, saying he found no reason for his client to escape or
skip the trial.

"I'm afraid the detention was largely based on political
interests as Tommy was involved in the case," he said, referring
to Hutomo Mandala Putra, the youngest son of former president
Soeharto who was convicted in the scam.

Beddu was indicted last year for his alleged involvement in
the 1995 land exchange deal between Bulog and wholesale firm PT
Goro Batara Sakti, which caused Rp 76.7 billion in state losses.

The same case resulted in Soeharto's favorite son Tommy and
businessman Ricardo Gelael, the commissioner and the executive of
PT Goro respectively, being sentenced to 18 months in prison by
the Supreme Court.

Tommy is at large and was declared a fugitive on Nov. 3, a day
after President Abdurrahman Wahid refused to grant him a pardon.
Ricardo served his sentence at Cipinang Penitentiary.

Beddu's indictment was dropped on grounds that the prosecutors
failed to obtain the presidential approval required to question a
state official. Beddu was then a member of the People's
Consultative Assembly.

Prosecutors at the time said that Beddu, a day after his
appointment as Bulog chief in 1995, signed a memorandum of
understanding with private firm PT Sekar Artha Sentosa, of which
he is also president, to exchange a Bulog plot and warehouses in
Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, with a 150-hectare swampy plot in
Marunda, North Jakarta.

Beddu had justified the transaction on the grounds that the
warehouse complex, which is located near the Kelapa Gading
housing complex, was no longer feasible.

However, Beddu allegedly sent a letter to then finance
minister Mari'e Muhammad stating that then president Soeharto
personally requested the land swap.

Commenting on his detention, Beddu said he would comply with
the law, but insisted on his innocence.

"I'm not guilty, let the trial prove it. The president (at the
time) approved and ordered the deal, so what else could I do? I
was just asked to implement the deal," Beddu said before leaving
the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office accompanied by dozens of
bodyguards.(bby)