Gus Dur's sworn testimony read out during Bulog trial

Gus Dur's sworn testimony read out during Bulog trial

JAKARTA (JP): Prosecutors read out on Tuesday the sworn
testimony of President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, given to
Jakarta Police chiefs in June, after calmly informing the South
Jakarta District Court that the President would not be required
to testify in court for the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) graft
trial.

"We have not summoned the President. We don't need his
presence in court as we had earlier informed this court.

"We have enough evidence to convict the defendant," chief
prosecutor Nulis Sembiring told the hearing, presided over by
Judge Lalu Mariyun.

The sole defendant in the trial is former Bulog deputy
chairman Sapuan, who has claimed that it was at the behest of the
President that he disbursed Rp 35 billion (US$3.6 million) in
Bulog funds to the President's masseur, Suwondo.

After the prosecutors read out the President's sworn
testimony, the last witness of the trial, Judge Lalu adjourned
the hearing until Dec. 19, when the questioning of the defendant
will begin.

This is the second time state prosecutors have opposed the
district court's decision to summon Gus Dur, arguing that they
have enough evidence and do not need him to testify in court.

Deprived of the opportunity to listen to Gus Dur being
questioned over the case, the court audience strained to hear the
content of the President's statement.

The President had earlier told incumbent Jakarta Police chief
of detectives Sr. Supt. Harry Montolalu and former city police
chief of detectives Brig. Gen. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo that,
during a Jan. 7, 2000 meeting, he and Sapuan discussed the
possibility of using some of Bulog's nonbudgetary funds.

"Yes, I met Sapuan, but I have no idea who really arranged
that meeting (at the presidential palace on Jan. 7 this year),"
Abdurrahman told the officers during the interview, held on June
23, 2000.

The President said Sapuan met him to advise that Bulog had Rp
370 billion in nonbudgetary funds.

"He said Rp 370 billion. I asked him whether some could be
used for humanitarian aid in Aceh. He said yes, as long as I
issued a presidential decree," Abdurrahman said, as quoted from
the testimony.

"I asked him why. Sapuan told me that the decree would act as
a permit for the concerned minister (Bulog chief Yusuf Kalla). So
I told him there was no need, since it would take too much time,"
the President stated.

Abdurrahman told the two officers that he had "no idea
whatsoever" about the Rp 35 billion fund taken from Bulog's
employee-owned Yanatera foundation, and denied ever ordering
Suwondo to obtain the money from Sapuan. (ylt)