More support pours in for Bulogate probe

More support pours in for Bulogate probe

JAKARTA (JP): A group of students expressed support for the
House of Representatives to carry on its inquiry into financial
scandals linked to President Abdurrahman Wahid, asking the House
to continue the investigation during the next recess which begins
on Monday.

The students, grouped under the Student and Youth Committee
for Justice (Kampud), told a hearing with the House special
committee assigned to examine the issue, on Tuesday, that a long
break would open up chances for backroom deals and money
politics.

"It would be better for the committee to keep working during
the recess so that its investigation could be completed by the
end of this year. Frankly speaking, we are skeptical of the
committee's commitment to investigate the scandals thoroughly if
it involves lobbying and secret deals with third parties for out-
of-court settlements," Edy Humaidy, Kampud's coordinator, said.

He insisted that the special committee was serious in its
investigation into the Bulog and Brunei scandals, and will
conduct its job fairly.

"The special committee must grill Suwondo, the main suspect in
the Bulog scam, and the President, to unveil their involvement in
the scandal," he said.

In his testimony before the committee recently, former
National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo reportedly implicated the
President in the scandal, which centered upon the withdrawal of
Rp 35 billion belonging to a foundation set up by employees of
the State Logistics Agency (Bulog).

Ade Komaruddin, the special committee's deputy chairman, said
the committee could not comply with the students' demand for
extra work during recess, but vowed to avoid any backroom deal.

"The special committee will comply with the House's scheduled
recess and will complete the investigation in time. The committee
members should be closely monitored by the press in order to
avoid the occurrence of backroom deals," he said.

Julius Usman, another deputy chairman of the special
committee, reiterated that the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) was committed to investigating the two
scandals.

"The PDI Perjuangan faction is seeking the truth in these
scandals. If the President is involved, our faction will support
a further investigation by the police into the scandals," he
said.

Rusdihardjo

Separately, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Saleh Saaf
suggested that the former National Police chief Rusdihardjo
should clarify his account which implicated the President in the
Bulog scam.

"That is not police business. If this case needs to be
clarified, Pak Rusdihardjo should come to his institution
(police) to clarify the problem himself," Saleh told reporters,
adding that Rusdihardjo had been speaking as an individual before
the special committee.

Saleh said that the police had no intention to summon
Rusdihardjo in connection with his shocking testimony.

"We only heard it from newspapers. Unless the special
committee gives us an official report (on Rusdihardjo's
statement) we can only regard it as rumor," Saleh said.

When being asked if the police would summon Rusdihardjo,
following a lawsuit filed by businesswoman Siti Farikha to
National Police Headquarters, Saleh said that the police would
forward the report to the military police headquarters.

"(The police) received (the report) in order not to disappoint
the party who filed the report," Saleh said.

Siti Farikha filed a report on Rusdihardjo on Monday saying
that Rusdihardjo had defamed her.

Bisa dipotong

Separately, Jakarta Police Criminal Investigation chief Sr.
Supt. Harry Montolalu denied knowledge over the existence of a
different dossier on the questioning of President Abdurrahman
Wahid over the case on June 24 this year.

"There is only one dossier (on the President's questioning)
which is currently being used by the court. The dossier states
that the president is not involved in the scandal," Harry said.

Taking place at the presidential palace, the team of
investigators from the Jakarta Police were escorted by several
top-brass officers, including then National Police chief Gen.
Rusdihardjo, then National Police Criminal Investigation chief
Brig. Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail, then Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen.
Nurfaizi, then Jakarta Police Criminal Investigation chief Sr.
Supt. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo and the newly appointed Harry.

Harry said that before the questioning, Rusdihardjo, Nurfaizi
and Chaeruddin entered the President's office and were in there
for about 20 minutes.

"I don't know what they were talking about," Harry said.

After that, he and Alex had been asked to enter the room and
the President had asked the two to question him rather than the
team of investigators. (jaw/rms)