Bulog graft suspect to face trial

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Prosecutors officially filed charges with the South Jakarta District Court on Friday against a former official of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) allegedly involved in a Rp 4.6 billion graft case.

The chief of the South Jakarta Prosecutor's Office, Poerwanto, expressed hope the court would soon seat a panel of judges to try Achmad Ruskandar, Bulog's former financial director.

"Hopefully the hearing will start soon," he said as quoted by Antara.

Poerwanto said the case would be handled by prosecutors Salimun, M. Hary Wahyudi and Andi Darmawangsa.

Ruskandar is accused of abusing his power in disbursing Rp 4.6 billion to cover a bank guarantee required in a land swap deal between Bulog and retailer PT Goro Batara Sakti in 1997.

PT Goro was partly owned by Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, the youngest son of former president Soeharto who is now serving a jail sentence for conspiring to commit murder.

The corruption case also involves former Bulog chief Rahardi Ramelan and Akbar Tanjung, who is the Speaker of the House of Representatives'.

Rahardi is currently standing trial at the same court for misusing Rp 62.9 billion in state funds. Prosecutors have demanded a five-year jail term for him.

Some Rp 40 billion of the money went to Akbar, who was then the state secretary/minister.

The Central Jakarta District Court found Akbar guilty of misusing the money to enrich others and sentenced him to three years in jail last August. Akbar appealed the verdict to the Jakarta High Court and remains free pending a decision.