Ghalib no suspect: Military Police

Ghalib no suspect: Military Police

JAKARTA (JP): The Military Police has denied reports that Lt.
Gen. Andi M. Ghalib, the former attorney general who stepped
aside amid allegations that he had accepted bribes, has been
named a suspect in their investigations.

"I have yet to mention his (Ghalib's) status as a suspect in
the case," Military Police chief Maj. Gen. Djasri Marin said on
Thursday after a meeting with Minister of Defense and
Security/Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto at his
office.

Also attending the meeting were Ghalib, Lt. Gen. Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono, chief of TNI territorial affairs Maj. Gen.
(police) Nana Permana and Maj. Gen. Endriartono Sutarto.

Djasri refused to explain Ghalib's role in the meeting.

A team of lawyers from the independent Indonesian Corruption
Watch (ICW) revealed on Wednesday evidence showing that Ghalib
was being treated as a suspect. They said the Military Police had
written to the National Police requesting the latter ask the
central bank to allow access to Ghalib's accounts.

Djasri said that he has annulled the letter recovered it from
the police.

"The letter should have been sent to the military
prosecutors," he added, without elaborating.

Asked why Ghalib had not been officially named a suspect while
the two businessmen who allegedly bribed him had, Djasri said it
was the responsibility of the police.

Ghalib's case came under the spotlight after ICW disclosed in
early June that Rp 450 million (US$57,000) was transferred to
Ghalib's account by tycoons The Nin King and Prajogo Pangestu in
April.

It also alleged Rp 1.8 billion was transferred to accounts in
the name of Ghalib and his wife, Andi Murniati, and that 11
deposits were made to their accounts between Feb. 12 and May 16
at a national private bank in South Jakarta.

Ghalib has denied taking bribes from the two businessmen,
claiming the Rp 450 million were contributions for the Indonesian
Wrestling Association, which he chairs.

The Nin King and Prajogo are suspected to have given bribes to
Ghalib while under investigation by the Attorney General's Office
over banking violations. (rms)