JP/1/AKBAR
Rp 32.5 billion Bulog money returned: AGO
The Jakarta Post Jakarta
The high-profile financial scandal involving House of Representatives speaker Akbar Tandjung took a peculiar turn when it was revealed Saturday that one of the case's primary suspects had returned Rp 32.5 billion of the funds allegedly swindled before he was detained on Thursday.
Attorney General's Office spokesman Barman Zahir revealed that Winfried Simatupang, the contractor hired to disperse food packages bought with Rp 40 billion from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), had returned the money to investigators last week.
Barman said Winfried promised to return the remaining amount by the end of the month.
The money was now kept in a Bank Mandiri account belonging to the Attorney General's Office.
According to Barman, Winfried told investigators that he still had possession of the money, but fell short of outrightly admitting that the food distribution program never existed.
The revelation made by the Attorney General's Office comes just 48-hours after Akbar and Winfried were thrown into a detention cell.
There was no clear explanation why prosecutors had only now made this important development public, saying only that it was part of the investigative strategy.
Barman insisted that the return of the funds would not alter the case against suspects Winfried, Akbar or Dadang Sukandar, the chairman of Raudlatul Jannah Foundation which hired Winfried to disburse food packages for those most affected by the economic crisis in 1999.
"This will not erase the crime committed ... the three suspects will remain in detention," Barman said.
However, he conceded that it could be a mitigating circumstance in the eventual sentencing if the suspects are found guilty.
Barman also claimed that the dossiers on all three would be ready by the end of this month.
The detention of Akbar on Thursday was a pinnacle in investigations into the multi-billion rupiah scandal which has also shocked the mighty Golkar Party, throwing it into some disarray.
The scandal centers on the disbursement of Rp 40 billion for relief assistance to the poor in 1999. It is alleged that the money found its way into Golkar coffers, or was even divided for campaign funds by major political parties.
Akbar, who at the time was Minister/State Secretary, had been given the green light by then President B.J. Habibie to disburse the funds for food.
While he admits to having attended a presentation held by Dadan and Winfried on plans for the distribution of food, Akbar maintains that he knew little of the follow-up process.
But counter testimony from Akbar's own colleagues has raised doubts over the Golkar Party's statements.
Akbar has had to recant his initial claim that he did not know the amount of funds involved, and former Golkar colleague Haryono Suyono rejected Akbar's statement that it was he who recommended Dadan's foundation carry out the project.
Meanwhile the glut of high-profile figures, mostly from Golkar, visiting Akbar continued on Saturday despite a sign posted saying that visits were only allowed on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Among them were Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, former minister of justice Oetojo Oesman, former minister of social affairs Anak Agung Gede Agung and Golkar board of patron's member Cosmas Batubara.
Akbar's wife Krisnina Maharani also visited accompanied by Golkar legislators Komariah Kuncoro and Evita Asmalda.
Krisnina refused to speak to journalists but Komariah noted that Akbar "looks exhausted".
Akbar's daughter Triana Krisna, still dressed in her junior- high school uniform, also paid a visit bringing a cake for her father.