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.