Conspiracy to protect Akbar, Golkar revealed by Rahardi's legal team

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A lawyer of the former chief of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) Rahardi Ramelan spoke on Tuesday about a meeting held at the house of former minister of justice Muladi here to discuss a scheme to cover up the alleged misuse of Rp 40 billion of Bulog funds allegedly disbursed by Golkar leader Akbar Tanjung to the party.

Rahardi's lawyer Trimoelja D. Soerjadi told the Central Jakarta District Court that the meeting was held on Oct.2, 2001, in Muladi's house in Mayestik, South Jakarta. Rahardi was asked to lie before the investigators from the Attorney General's Office to cover up for Akbar's and the Golkar party's involvement, he said.

At the time, Rahardi agreed but asked for a delay in the questioning, which was scheduled for Oct.3. However, as the request was not met, Rahardi rejected the proposal, according to Trimoelja.

Trimoelja said that the meeting was attended by Akbar's lawyers, as well as Golkar treasurers MS Hidayat and Fadel Muhammad, who is now the governor of Gorontalo.

Later on Oct. 10, Rahardi and his lawyers met Akbar and his then lawyers at Grand Mahakam hotel in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. They proposed another scheme to "ensure conformity between Rahardi's testimony and Akbar's, Trimoelja said.

Therefore, Trimoelja asked the court to order the prosecutors to present Fadel and Hidayat to give testimony in the trial.

"We think that their testimony is relevant in this case, Your Honor," said Trimoelja, who had last month asked the judges to present Golkar party treasurers.

"We need to hear their testimony to find out the material truth of this case, particularly about the channeling of Rp 40 billion of Bulog nonbudgetary funds," he said.

Presiding judge Lalu Mariyun said that the panel of judges would consider the request.

Rahardi is accused of misusing Rp 62.9 billion in Bulog funds.

As much as Rp 40 billion allegedly went to then minister/state secretary Akbar, who is now House speaker and chairman of Golkar, for use in a charity program to provide food for the poor.

Many believed, however, that Akbar channeled the money for use in Golkar party's 1999 election campaign.

Indonesian Military chief Gen. (ret.) Wiranto allegedly obtained Rp 10 billion to maintain security during the 1999 People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) general session while the rest was allegedly used for other purposes, including for athletes and the presidential guard.

Earlier on Tuesday, former secretary-general of the Indonesian Swimming Association (PRSI) P. Simatupang testified that Rahardi, the association's chairman, had disbursed Rp 600 billion for PRSI.

"I obtained a check for Rp 600 million from Pak Rahardi's aide, Bustan Jufri, for the PRSI athletes who participated in the 1999 Sea Games in Brunei Darussalam. But I didn't know where the money had come from, although the check was stamped with Bulog's logo," he said.

Rahardi admitted that Bulog had previously lent the money to PRSI but claimed that Bulog later decided to view the fund as a "gift" because Bulog could afford it.