Laode fails again to testify in Rahardi Ramelan trial
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
For the fourth time, the South Jakarta District Court failed on Tuesday to hear the testimony of the Vice President's advisor Laode Kamaluddin in the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) scandal hearing, due to the lack of official approval from President Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Chief prosecutor Kemas Yahya Rahman told the court that he failed to present the witness in the trial of former chief of Bulog Rahardi Ramelan, as he had not secured permission from the President.
Permission is needed because Laode is also a member of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
However, Kemas did not say why the President had not approved the request to question La Ode.
Rahardi is accused of misusing Rp 62.9 billion of the Bulog nonbudgetary funds.
According to the lawyers, Laode obtained from Rahardi some Rp 400 million, which was disbursed to fund a project to influence favorable media coverage for former president B.J. Habibie who was about to run for the 1999 election.
Rp 40 billion went to then state secretary Akbar Tandjung for a charitable project, Rp 10 billion to former defense minister Wiranto for security during the general session while the rest was disbursed for various reasons, including for the presidential guards and athletes of the national swimming association.
Many alleged that Akbar channeled the money to the Golkar Party. Akbar, who now currently House speaker and Golkar leader, is facing a possible four years imprisonment over the same case.
Later in the day, a former official of the Ministry of Finance, Hatomi, told the court that Bulog funds had been misappropriated during the defendant's term.
However, he withdrew his earlier statement that the state suffered financial losses.
"As long as it was used for the sake of the state, then there was no losses to the state. But we could still call it misappropriation," Hatomi said.
When Kemas asked about the money spent by Rahardi for the athletes, he refused to reply.