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.