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)