Former first lady grilled in extortion case
Former first lady grilled in extortion case
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Former first lady Sinta Nuriyah Abdurrahman Wahid was
interrogated by police on Tuesday over allegations that her
foundation received Rp 15 billion (US$1.46 million) of money
extorted from Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra.
After a two-and-a-half hours of questioning Sinta bitterly
dismissed the accusation.
Sinta arrived in her wheelchair at 10 a.m., accompanied by her
lawyer, Luhut P. Pangaribuan and former president Abdurrahman's
spokesmen Adhie Massardi.
The questioning was led by Jakarta's chief detective for
economy Adj. Sr. Com. Benni Mokalo who asked her 12 questions in
relation to the accusations.
Benni told The Jakarta Post that Sinta had been cooperative
and that her answers were comprehensive. He refused to elaborate.
At the press conference after the questioning, Sinta said that
her arrival at the Jakarta Police Headquarters was part of her
obligation as a good citizen and that she respected the due
process of law.
Sinta also clarified that her foundation's name was Puan Amal
Hayat and not the Sinta Nuriah foundation as claimed by Raden
Dodi Sumadi.
Dodi was the alleged middle man that brought Tommy Soeharto
and former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid together to
discuss a presidential pardon for Tommy.
Tommy is now detained by the police after he was arrested last
month at the end of a year on the run as a fugitive. He is facing
numerous charges including the killing of Justice M. Syafiuddin
Kartasasmita.
Sinta also dismissed allegations that she was acquainted to
Dodi and said that she had never received any donation or gift
from him.
"I have never received any donation or gift whatsoever from
Tommy or Dodi," she said.
She said the accusation had tarnished the reputation of her
family and foundation and would sue Tommy's lawyer, Elza Syarief,
and the former city police chief, Sofjan Jakob over the claims.
She said she would demand Rp 100 million (about US$10,000) for
material losses and an as yet unspecified amount for immaterial
losses.
The questioning of Sinta was part of the police's probe into
claims by Tommy that Gus Dur allegedly extorted money from him in
return for a presidential pardon.
The police will also summon Gus Dur and his daughter Zannuba
"Yenni" Arifah Chafsoh Rahman for questioning this week.
The police have so far made Abdullah Sidiq Muin, the leader of
the Attauhid Islamic boarding school in Kediri, and Raden Dodi
Sumadi suspects in the extortion case.