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)