Kalla, Mulyono to face questioning over Bulog scam
JAKARTA (JP): Police will question former chief of the National Logistics Agency (Bulog) Yusuf Kalla and chairman of the Bulog employees-owned foundation Yanatera Mulyono early this week in connection with a Rp 35 billion scandal involving the agency's top official.
Jakarta Police detective chief Col. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo said on Saturday that the questioning of Mulyono would take place here on Monday, while Kalla would be questioned in his hometown of Makassar, the capital of Southeast Sulawesi, on Tuesday.
The two have been summoned for questioning as witnesses.
Alex told journalists police would ask Mulyono why he disbursed the funds without the approval of the foundation's members.
The foundation's statute stipulates that an executive is required to obtain approval from at least one third of its members for the use of more than Rp 500 million of its funds.
Police have named a total of eight witnesses in the case, but Alex refused to give any details.
"All of them are executives in the foundation," he said.
Bulog's deputy chief Sapuan was named as a suspect and placed under police custody two days later. While this was happening Bulog chief Rizal Ramli suspended him from his job.
Sapuan told police that he had given Rp 35 billion to Suwondo, President Abdurrahman Wahid masseur, in January after the latter pleaded for humanitarian aid to give to the victims of violence in Aceh.
News reports said that the masseur, who is still at large, earlier asked Bulog for money, saying it was needed for the "palace coffers".
The then Bulog chief Yusuf rejected it, but Sapuan agreed to the request after he was promised a promotion to the Bulog chief post.
Rizal said that his office had asked permission from the finance minister to look into Suwondo's bank account in Bank Bukopin and check the flow of money.
Meanwhile, member of the government-sanctioned National Legal Commission, Mohammad Fajrul Falaakh, suggested that President Abdurrahman Wahid suspend aides who were allegedly involved in the scam.
Speaking in a seminar here, the nephew to President Abdurrahman said that law enforcement should make the case a priority.
"This matter is more important than the interpellation plan of 277 legislators. This case concerns the President's image," Fajrul said.
In Surabaya, Attorney General Marzuki Darusman said that the police were still trying to determine whether or not to categorize the case as a general crime or one of corruption.
Investigation into corruption cases falls under the auspices of the Attorney General's Office. If the Bulog scandal is classified as being one of corruption, Marzuki said he would let the newly-established anticorruption joint team conduct the investigation. (01/06/ylt)