NGOs call for further inquiry on Bulog graft

NGOs call for further inquiry on Bulog graft

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) demanded on
Tuesday that the Attorney General's Office continue investigating
the Rp 40 billion (US$4 million) graft of funds belonging to the
State Logistics Agency (Bulog), which has implicated several
executives of the Golkar Party.

The NGOs, including the Petisi 50 group, the New Order
Awareness Committee, the Alliance Forum of the Islamic Parties,
and the Marhaen Movement, handed over additional information on
the case to Deputy Attorney General Soeparman.

Judilheri of the New Order Awareness Committee disclosed that
the case, which is now being handled by state prosecutors, also
implicated House of Representatives speaker Akbar Tandjung,
former president B.J. Habibie, former Bulog chief Rahardi
Ramelan, Golkar Party's chairman Fadel Muhamad, treasurer
Marimutu Manimaren, and secretary Mohammad S. Hidayat.

Rahardi, who is a suspect in the case, revealed earlier that
the funds were partly given to Akbar Tandjung to purchase food
and other basic commodities during the economic crisis in 1999.

Judilheri claimed that the NGOs had reliable information that
the funds were actually extended by Bulog's deputy chief of
finance Ruskandar to Fadel and Hidayat.

"They, of course, have destroyed the receipt. It is also not
credible that Pak Akbar forgot the foundations that received the
funds," Judilheri said.

Meanwhile, Akbar created further inconsistencies by correcting
his first denial, saying that he had allowed the agency to hand
over the funds directly to the foundations that had been
recommended by related ministries. However, he still did not
disclose the foundations.

Based on a statement made available to The Jakarta Post, Akbar
also said that he had never received the money.