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)