Ghalib to resign from wrestling body
Ghalib to resign from wrestling body
JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Lt. Gen. Andi M. Ghalib said on
Monday he would resign as chairman of the Indonesian Wrestling
Association (PGSI), following allegations he had abused his
position to collect donations from the public, including two
tycoons.
The Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) disclosed on Ghalib's
53rd birthday last Thursday that a total of Rp 450 million
(US$57,000) was transferred to Ghalib's account by businessmen
The Nin King and Prajogo in April.
Ghalib called the allegation "unforgivable slander", but also
said "wrestling gives me a headache".
"It's better for me to resign," he said at a joint media
conference with Minister of Justice Muladi, after meeting with
President B.J. Habibie at the latter's official residence in
Patra Kuningan, South Jakarta.
"Please settle it in accordance with the law," Muladi quoted
Habibie as advising Ghalib.
Ghalib said his notice had been triggered by a statement made
by Muladi at the media conference that to avoid a conflict of
interest Cabinet ministers should not chair sports organizations.
Ghalib said the money was never intended for his own
interests, and was wholly set aside for funding wrestling sports.
"The money is still there and has not been used at all," he
said.
On Thursday, ICW coordinator Teten Masduki alleged Rp 1.8
billion was transferred to accounts in the name of Ghalib and his
wife, Andi Murniati. Teten said 11 deposits were made to their
accounts between Feb. 12 and May 16 at a national private bank in
South Jakarta.
Ghalib officially took the helm of PGSI on April 13.
Businessmen Nin King and Prajogo transferred their donations on
April 23 and April 27 respectively.
Before revealing the controversial case to the media on
Thursday, the independent watchdog provided copies of documents
relating to the alleged Rp 1.8 billion in transfers to National
Military Police Headquarters. The documents were delivered to the
latter organization earlier on Thursday, because Ghalib is still
an active three-star general.
According to Teten, copies of the transfers were mailed to the
ICW office from an unidentified party.
In a related development on Monday, the attorney general,
represented by office spokesman Soehandoyo and two lawyers,
lodged a complaint against ICW for slander and defamation at
Jakarta Police Headquarters.
ICW executives Teten and Bambang Widjojanto were named as the
guilty party in their legal report.
After lodging the complaint, Ghalib's lawyers, Ruhut Sitompul
and Hotma Sitompul, said their client informed the police that
violation of bank secrecy laws had occurred.
The lawyers appeared to be referring to the accounts of Ghalib
and his wife at the Melawai branch office of the Lippo Bank in
South Jakarta.
The legal team declined to clarify their statement.
However, Ruhut said Ghalib was not complaining about the
content of the ICW's findings.
"It's not the material that concerns us, but ICW's intention
to slander and defame Pak Ghalib.
"If those people (from ICW) had goodwill, they should not have
held the media conference to disclose the allegation, but
confirmed it, or crosschecked it with the concerned parties,
including Pak Ghalib."
Ruhut refused to comment on whether his remark could also mean
his client accepted the allegation.
Last Friday, Denny Kailimang, a lawyer acting for Nin King and
Prajogo, acknowledged the Rp 450 million transfer from his
clients. However, he dismissed the bribery allegation, saying the
fund transferred to Ghalib's account was for the wrestling
association.
Separately, the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights
Association supported the ICW findings.
"The transfer is not only addressed to Ghalib's account, but
also to his wife's (account)," chairman of the association
Hendardi said in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post.
Hendardi Prajogo and Nin King should also be held accountable
for their role in the matter.
"There is the principal of 'no free lunch' in a bribery case,"
Hendardi said. (prb/emf)