No need to detain Akbar, AGO confirms

Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

House of Representatives speaker Akbar Tandjung, a suspect in a case of misappropriation of State Logistics Agency (Bulog) funds, was able to breathe a sigh of relief when he arrived home on Friday as the Attorney General's Office saw no need to detain him.

The office spokesman Barman Zahir said prosecutors in the case had not completed their investigation into Golkar party chairman Akbar, who had just arrived from his second haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, and two other suspects.

"The probe is still underway, therefore the investigators have not yet ascertained whether it is necessary to detain the suspects," Barman said.

Another suspect in the scandal, former Bulog chairman Rahardi Ramelan, began serving 20 days in detention on Thursday, pending trial.

Rahardi faces charges of embezzling Rp 54.6 billion in non- budgetary Bulog funds in 1999. Akbar, who was then minister/state secretary, received Rp 40 billion of the funds to finance a project to provide food aid for the poor in several provinces.

Some Rp 10 billion of the funds went to the Ministry of Defense and Security to provide facilities and food for soldiers. But the report on the project did not point to former defense minister Wiranto.

The remaining Rp 4.6 billion was disbursed by Bulog's former financial deputy Achmad Ruskandar without Rahardi's approval, making the latter a suspect.

The investigators have found no evidence which can confirm the that the money was actually used as food aid for the poor as claimed by Akbar, Dadang Sukandar, the head of the Raudatul Jannah foundation handpicked by Akbar to organize the program and Winfried Simatupang, the project's contractor.

Barman said the prosecutors would not impose a travel ban on Akbar either, because his public post provided a guarantee that he would not attempt to escape prosecution.

Noted lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution said that Rahardi's detention served as more evidence of discriminative practices in the country's legal system.

But, a source at the Attorney General's Office told The Jakarta Post on Friday that the investigators would not let the three suspects, including Akbar, get off easily.

"Just wait until we are convinced that we will not lose in the legal battle with the experienced lawyers hired by the suspects before we decide to detain them. We have to be well prepared," the source, who asked for anonymity, said.

The source argued that the Rahardi's detention was part of a strategy by investigators.

Earlier in the day, Akbar pledged readiness for more questioning. He also denied rumors of a back-room deal struck with deputy House speaker AM Fatwa of the National Mandate Party while they were performing their pilgrimage to foil a proposal to set up a House special commission to investigate Akbar's involvement in the high-profile scam.

"I will always comply with the law. I am ready for further questioning anytime," Akbar told reporters after Friday prayers at the Baiturrahman Mosque in the House compound.

Deputy House Speaker from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno meanwhile expressed hope that a plenary session on March 7 would result in an endorsement of the proposal to set up a House committee to investigate Akbar.

"Possibly, legislators will decide on the matter through a vote," Soetardjo said.

After several months of delay, House legislators will convene next Thursday to hear the views of 10 factions concerning the proposal to set up an inquiry committee.

The proposal was submitted last October by 50 legislators from various factions, but faced strong opposition from Golkar, the second largest House faction.