House team to question witnesses over scandals

JAKARTA (JP): The chief of a special House of Representatives investigation team probing two scandals related to President Abdurrahman Wahid -- the State Logistics Agency and Brunei scandals -- has said the team will question 21 people over the scandals.

"If these people indicate that the President was involved in the scandals, we might question him also for clarification," legislator Bachtiar Chamsyah announced on Friday.

Bachtiar, who is also deputy chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) faction at the House, said the 50-member team would report to a House plenary session on their work.

He expressed hope that the team, which officially starts its investigation on Oct. 9, could complete its work by the end of the House session in December.

"Whatever the results, we will announce them. It will also be clarification for the public if the President is not guilty. It will avoid slander," he contended.

The scandal at the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) surfaced in April when it was disclosed that Rp 35 billion (US$4.2 million) belonging to the agency's employees foundation had been diverted, allegedly at the President's request, to finance humanitarian programs in Aceh.

The money, however, reportedly went into the pockets of people close to the President.

The President has denied complicity in the Bulog affair.

The other scandal involves a reported personal donation of $2 million from Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah to the President for humanitarian programs in Aceh.

On Aug. 28, the House's plenary session approved, in a vote, to set up a team to investigate the scandals.

Bachtiar said that among the 21 people who would be questioned was newly appointed National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro.

He said Bimantoro would be summoned since the police had reportedly questioned Abdurrahman in relation to the scandals.

"But we might question former National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo if we think that Bimantoro's explanation is not enough," he remarked.

Former minister of industry and trade and Bulog chief Yusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Rizal Ramli, former secretary of government supervision Bondan Gunawan will also be questioned in connection to the cases, he said. (jun)