No need to detain Akbar, AGO confirms

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.