No suspects in 'fraud' case

No suspects in 'fraud' case

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Police now have no suspects in a bizarre case involving a former
Jakarta city council chairman, a businesswoman and an alleged
"fraud" worth Rp 1 billion (US$112,359).

Former Jakarta City Council chairman Agung Imam Sumanto failed
to show up for questioning at the Jakarta Police headquarters on
Friday in connection with the allegations of fraud, despite
police saying he was now only a witness, not a suspect, in the
case.

"There are still the second and the third summons (to come),
so probably I will come to the city police headquarters on the
next summons," Agung said when he was contacted through his cell
phone.

Agung did not give a reason for his absence. The day before,
he had said he would be ready at any time for questioning in the
case.

The case was brought to police attention by businesswoman
Etty Mustam. She said she along with three associates had paid
Agung more than Rp 1 billion installments in 2003 to help obtain
licenses for her business' 200 public minivans. She said some of
the payments had been paid through Agung's ex-wife. She filed a
fraud case against Agung after her licenses failed to materialize
when Agung's term as council chairman ended.

Etty's allegations are effectively an admission she and her
associates had participated in an attempt to bribe Agung.

Under Indonesian law, however, police cannot lay charges
against Etty unless someone has filed a complaint against her. As
yet, police have not laid charges against Etty or her colleagues.

Agung on Thursday at a campaign team meeting at the police
headquarters admitted accepting the money but said that it was
meant for "the presidential election campaign".

A member of the success team of presidential candidate
Megawati Soekarnoputri, Agung said one of the four businesspeople
who gave him the money was also a PDI-P member and knew what the
money was being used for.

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani confirmed on
Friday the police would now only question Agung as a witness in
connection with the case.

Firman said police would investigate the case further before
they charged anyone over the affair. "We will not declare someone
as a suspect before we question him or her. We should work on a
'cover both sides' principle," he said.

Firman did not elaborate the reason behind the changing of
Agung's status.

Earlier city police chief Sr. Comr. Mathius Salempang said
that Agung had been named a suspect as of Thursday.

He had said the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-
P) councillor in 1999 could be charged under Article 378 of the
Criminal Code on fraud. The article carries a maximum sentence of
four years' jail term.

Before summoning Agung, the police had questioned five
witnesses, including Etty and her business partners and Agung's
second wife.