Forgetful people

Forgetful people

From Neraca

The corruption case involving nonbudgetary funds of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) allegedly misused by Akbar Tanjung, general chairman of the Golkar Party and House of Representatives speaker, is now becoming murky as those involved seem to be forgetful people.

In the case, nicknamed Buloggate II, Akbar once said he had forgotten the name of the foundation appointed to channel the money, while the then chairman of the said foundation, (later identified as the Raudatul Jannah Foundation), Dadang Sukandar, and the person working on a contract basis to channel the aid, Winfried Simatupang, did likewise.

The latter two did not say they had forgotten the amount of money they were supposed to have channeled but said that it turned out that Rp 32.5 billion had yet to be channeled.

As it happened, the two of them returned this amount -- Rp 32.5 billion -- to the Attorney General's Office, an act which, according to their lawyers, was intended to alleviate the punishment to be exacted upon them.

To me, a laymen, the return of this Rp 32.5 billion shows that Buloggate II is really a strange case. How could a contractor forget that a total of Rp 32.5 billion -- a huge sum indeed -- had yet to be channeled?

The conclusion is that they are not really forgetful. Nor are they noble for having returned the money. What they have done strongly suggests a deliberate act to free Akbar Tandjung from possible punishment.

Therefore, the Attorney General's Office must uncover where this Bulog money has gone. It is highly likely that it has gone to Golkar through its treasurers, M.S. Hidayat and Fadel Muhammad.

Last, but not least, the House must establish a special committee to investigate Buloggate II.

FATAHILLAH

Tangerang, Banten