Former top forestry official arrested
<p>Former top forestry official arrested</p><p> JAKARTA (JP): City Police arrested former secretary-general of
the forestry ministry Soeripto on Tuesday for allegedly leaking
state secrets.</p><p>Soeripto, dismissed by President Abdurrahman Wahid last month
for reportedly holding a meeting to plot his downfall, was picked
up by police mobile detectives (Resmob) at his residence in
Cipete Selatan, South Jakarta, at 4 p.m.</p><p>The arrest came after a tip that three men arrested on Monday
for illegal possession of weapons at a Central Jakarta hotel were
Soeripto's men.</p><p>Soeripto admitted on Tuesday that he had booked the hotel room
for his men, but said he knew nothing about the weapons.</p><p>"I reserved the room for them to observe the security
situation in the capital, during the mass prayer and the House
plenary session," Soeripto told reporters at the city police
headquarters prior to his questioning.</p><p>He said he had been leading a foundation which was conducting
studies on mass conflicts at the request of the Ministry of
Defense. The security arrangements for Sunday's mass prayer and
the House of Representatives plenary session that censured the
President on Monday were used as examples.</p><p>The charge handed down to Soeripto, also a former official of
the State Intelligence Coordinating Body (Bakin), carries a
maximum jail sentence of seven years.</p><p>Police described the weapons seized in the Central Jakarta
hotel on Monday as 10 steel rods with sharp, star-like figures on
the ends.</p><p>Director General of Defense Strategy at the Ministry of
Defense, Maj. Gen. Sudrajat, denied any link with Soeripto's
project.</p><p>"The ministry has never been involved in such a project with
Pak Soeripto," Sudrajat said.</p><p>Soeripto, a retired Army major general, had previously spoken
with National Police Chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro on accusations
made against him by the President.</p><p>During his brief tenure, Soeripto also provided evidence of
corruption allegedly committed by timber tycoon Prajogo Pangestu,
one of three businessmen who were once exempted from
investigation by the Attorney General's Office.</p><p>State prosecutors are now handling the case but have yet to
name Prajogo a suspect.</p><p>A source at the Attorney General's Office who requested
anonymity told the Post that a travel ban had been slapped on
Prajogo on Monday.</p><p>When asked if Prajogo had left the country, his lawyer Denny
Kailimang said that his client would not escape the legal
proceedings, as long as they were free from political motives.</p><p>"My client won't leave the country since he owns two valuable
industries, namely olefin producer PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical
Center and pulp industry PT Enim Tanjung Lestari," he said.
(02/ylt/bby)</p>
the forestry ministry Soeripto on Tuesday for allegedly leaking
state secrets.</p><p>Soeripto, dismissed by President Abdurrahman Wahid last month
for reportedly holding a meeting to plot his downfall, was picked
up by police mobile detectives (Resmob) at his residence in
Cipete Selatan, South Jakarta, at 4 p.m.</p><p>The arrest came after a tip that three men arrested on Monday
for illegal possession of weapons at a Central Jakarta hotel were
Soeripto's men.</p><p>Soeripto admitted on Tuesday that he had booked the hotel room
for his men, but said he knew nothing about the weapons.</p><p>"I reserved the room for them to observe the security
situation in the capital, during the mass prayer and the House
plenary session," Soeripto told reporters at the city police
headquarters prior to his questioning.</p><p>He said he had been leading a foundation which was conducting
studies on mass conflicts at the request of the Ministry of
Defense. The security arrangements for Sunday's mass prayer and
the House of Representatives plenary session that censured the
President on Monday were used as examples.</p><p>The charge handed down to Soeripto, also a former official of
the State Intelligence Coordinating Body (Bakin), carries a
maximum jail sentence of seven years.</p><p>Police described the weapons seized in the Central Jakarta
hotel on Monday as 10 steel rods with sharp, star-like figures on
the ends.</p><p>Director General of Defense Strategy at the Ministry of
Defense, Maj. Gen. Sudrajat, denied any link with Soeripto's
project.</p><p>"The ministry has never been involved in such a project with
Pak Soeripto," Sudrajat said.</p><p>Soeripto, a retired Army major general, had previously spoken
with National Police Chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro on accusations
made against him by the President.</p><p>During his brief tenure, Soeripto also provided evidence of
corruption allegedly committed by timber tycoon Prajogo Pangestu,
one of three businessmen who were once exempted from
investigation by the Attorney General's Office.</p><p>State prosecutors are now handling the case but have yet to
name Prajogo a suspect.</p><p>A source at the Attorney General's Office who requested
anonymity told the Post that a travel ban had been slapped on
Prajogo on Monday.</p><p>When asked if Prajogo had left the country, his lawyer Denny
Kailimang said that his client would not escape the legal
proceedings, as long as they were free from political motives.</p><p>"My client won't leave the country since he owns two valuable
industries, namely olefin producer PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical
Center and pulp industry PT Enim Tanjung Lestari," he said.
(02/ylt/bby)</p>