Bulog scandal suspect Suwondo to be transferred to Salemba jail

JAKARTA (JP): Alip Agung Suwondo, a main suspect in the multibillion rupiah State Logistics Agency (Bulog) scandal, is scheduled to spend his days and nights at the Salemba Penitentiary starting Wednesday, a police officer said.

City Police Criminal Investigation chief Sr. Supt. Harry Montolalu said on Tuesday that the suspect would be transferred from police detention based on Monday's approval by the City Prosecutors' Office of the Suwondo dossiers that were handed over by the police last week.

"Once Suwondo is handed over to the prosecutor's office, he will no longer be in our custody," Harry told reporters.

Suwondo, President Abdurrahman Wahid's masseur, was arrested on Oct. 14 after several weeks hiding at his villa in the popular Puncak mountain resort in West Java.

According to officer Harry, important evidence would also be submitted to the prosecutor's office on Wednesday.

"We will hand over three luxury cars, money, and a land certificate," Harry said.

City police confiscated three new cars in June -- a Range Rover, a BMW Z-3 sedan, and a Mercedes sedan -- all under the name of Suwondo after the suspect allegedly defrauded the Bulog employees foundation Yanatera of Rp. 35 billion.

Police also seized 100 hectares in South Cianjur, West Java, which was to be used by Suwondo to build a garden house.

Bulog's deputy chief Sapuan, who was also named suspect in the case after he disbursed the funds to Suwondo, has repeatedly said that Suwondo was acting on behalf of President Abdurrahman Wahid who asked Bulog for funds for humanitarian purposes.

According to police reports, Rp 10 billion went to Suwondo's wife, Teti Nursetiati, Rp 5 billion to Semarang businesswoman Siti Farika, 15 billion to Suko Sudarso, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI Perjuangan) research and development department, and Rp 5 billion to Leo Purnomo, a staff member at an airline company.

Together with Abdurrahman, Suwondo is a founder of that airline company.

Teti and Farika have returned the money they received, but the Rp 15 billion that went to Suko's bank account has virtually gone.

Leo remains at large and Harry said police still have no idea of his whereabouts.

However, Harry said, Leo's absence would not affect the trial.

"The main suspects are still only Suwondo and Sapuan," Harry said. (jaw)