Moerdiono questioned over Tommy's project

JAKARTA (JP): The Attorney General's Office grilled former minister/state secretary Moerdiono for more than two hours on Friday over a questionable Rp 52.5 billion land deal in Jakarta involving the youngest son of former president Soeharto, Hutomo Mandala Putra.

Moerdiono was questioned over the sale of the National Logistics Agency's (Bulog) property in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, in 1996 to PT Goro Batara Sakti, the giant supermarket chain in which Tommy, as the businessman is popularly known, owned some shares.

"Bulog warehouses were moved because the vicinity had become a residential area, so it was no longer suitable for it," Moerdiono told reporters.

The former key aide of Soeharto added that Bulog's delivery trucks had also caused problems for traffic in the area.

"The land swap had Soeharto's permission and as a minister/state secretary my duty was only to convey that decision to the concerned parties," Moerdiono said.

Tommy has fallen under suspicion in the case and has been banned from leaving the country.

The investigation focused on a contract Bulog signed to sell its Kelapa Gading property to Goro. Under the exchange, the state agency would receive a 63 hectare lot in Marunda, North Jakarta, estimated to be worth Rp 52.5 billion.

However, Bulog had only received eight hectares of the land entitlement and the state agency had even forked out Rp 32.5 billion for the property which should have been paid by Goro.

In addition, Bulog also provided a guarantee for a Rp 20 billion loan which Goro took out from Bank Bukopin to purchase the Marunda land.

PT Goro Batara Sakti used to run two giant supermarkets in Kelapa Gading and on Jl. Pasar Minggu in South Jakarta. The Pasar Minggu outlet was burnt down during the May riots and has not reopened since.

Tommy early last year sold his entire share in Goro to Puskud, a government cooperative.

Also barred from making overseas travel are the other two main figures in the investigation: Ricardo Gelael of the Gelael supermarket chain, and Beddu Amang, the former Bulog chairman.

Beddu was replaced in August amid growing accusations of gross inefficiency and corruption within the state agency. (byg)