Bulog scandal suspect shifted to Cipinang jail

Bulog scandal suspect shifted to Cipinang jail

JAKARTA (JP): While awaiting the trial of the multibillion
rupiah State Logistics Agency (Bulog) scandal, the Jakarta
Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday transferred suspect Alip Agung
Suwondo from the city police detention house to the Cipinang
penitentiary in East Jakarta.

Assistant for general crimes at the Jakarta Prosecutor's
Office, Suhardjono, said Suwondo's initial detention will be
until Jan. 1, 2001.

"We moved him to the Cipinang penitentiary to prevent the
suspect from trying to intimidate witnesses or tamper with
evidence," Suhardjono told journalists at his office after the
handover of the suspect from police investigators.

"We have appointed officials from the South Jakarta
Prosecutors' Office as general prosecutors ... and the case will
be filed with the South Jakarta District Court before the end of
the detention term," he said.

The evidence in Suwondo's case is basically the same as for
the key suspect in the scandal, former deputy Bulog chief Sapuan.
It comprises Rp 16.5 billion (US$1.7 million) recovered from the
parties implicated in the scandal, three cars and a plot of land
in Ciganjur area, South Jakarta.

The police have charged Suwondo firstly with violating Article
378 of the Criminal Code on fraud, and secondly with the Code's
Article 372 on embezzlement and Article 480 on storing stolen
goods.

Suwondo, alias An Peng Sui, had allegedly defrauded Bulog of
the money at the behest of President Abdurrahman Wahid.

The police investigators found that Suwondo had received four
checks from Sapuan totaling Rp 35 billion, belonging to Bulog's
employees foundation, Yanatera, during January this year. The
checks were issued by private Bank Bukopin.

The investigators charged that the money was misused by the
suspects for their personal interest, causing losses to Yanatera.

Suwondo went missing after the case was made public in
February. Reports said that he was arrested by the police while
resting in his villa in Puncak, West Java, on Oct. 15. His
initial detention period was extended from Nov. 4 to Dec. 13.

Suwondo has persistently proclaimed his innocence in the case,
saying that he was a victim of a political game among the elite.

"In my judgment, it (the case) is simple, why should it be
turned into a political issue?" Suwondo once said in a loud voice
when being escorted from the Jakarta Police headquarters.

"I have been sacrificed by people in the political circle."

Suwondo has repeatedly said that he received the funds from
Yanatera simply as a loan between Bulog's deputy chief Sapuan and
himself.

Suwondo also said that it was irrelevant to link the case with
President Abdurrahman.

"The President and I are friends, but it doesn't mean that Gus
Dur (the President's nickname) is related (to the case). He never
ordered me to get the funds," said Suwondo, who was formerly
Abdurrahman's masseur.

General prosecutor Nulis Sembiring said the team is now
preparing the indictment.

"We are slated to summon 30 people as witnesses in the
hearing, including President Abdurrahman and Suwondo's wife Teti
Nursetiati," he said.

Suwondo's lawyer Denny Azani Latief submitted on Wednesday a
proposal, as requested by Suwondo's wife Teti, for a delay to his
client's arrest, saying that the other suspect in the case is not
under detention.

Sapuan is now under house arrest due to ill health. During
hearings of his case last September he was detained at Cipinang
penitentiary.

Suhardjono responded by saying that his office would study the
request.

Before leaving the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office compound on
Wednesday, Suwondo, who wore a white long-sleeves shirt and dark
trousers, refused to comment on his detention.

"I feel just as usual," was all he offered. (jaw/bby)