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.