Beddu blames Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): Former State Logistics Agency (Bulog) chief Beddu Amang has blamed former president Soeharto for a land swap deal that caused some Rp 95.4 billion in state losses.

"It was the (former) president's order, I only did my job," Beddu told the South Jakarta District Court on Thursday.

The deal was made in 1995 between Bulog and PT Goro Batara Sakti. Soeharto's son, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, was an executive of the company.

Under the deal, Bulog agreed to give away 50 hectares of land in the strategic area of Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, in exchange for a 70-hectare plot of land in Marunda, also in North Jakarta.

Beddu also admitted to providing a Rp 20 billion loan taken from Bank Bukopin in Bulog's name and another Rp 32.5 billion taken from Bulog's funds to PT Goro, who were purchasing the plot of land from Hokiarto.

Beddu is accused of manipulating his authority as Bulog chief during the land exchange deal.

According to the indictment, the deal did not comply with the proper bid procedure as regulated in a finance ministry instruction and that PT Goro did not have the funds or the ability to provide some Rp 192 billion to pay for Bulog's property.

Tommy and Ricardo Gelael, both Goro executives, were sentenced to 18 months jail for the scandal. Tommy has avoided serving a day of his sentence, running from authorities in November shortly after an appeal to the president for clemency was turned down.(04)