Novanto to remain KONI treasurer despite scandal

Novanto to remain KONI treasurer despite scandal

JAKARTA (JP): Setya Novanto will remain in his post as
National Sports Council (KONI) treasurer despite being detained
by police on Wednesday.

KONI secretary-general Rudolf S. Warouw said that although the
police detained Novanto to further investigate his involvement in
the US$70 million Bank Bali scandal, he would maintain his
position in the council.

"We can't just judge someone. We must see the case from both
sides and stick to the presumption of innocence. The KONI
chairman will see if Novanto's prolonged absence from KONI will
disturb the organization's performance.

"If Novanto's absence causes difficulties in KONI,
particularly in funds, then the chairman will call a plenary
meeting to request suggestions from other officials.

"But if his absence does not effect our work, then it will be
the chairman's decision (about what to do with Novanto)," he
said.

Novanto was reportedly released from police custody around
midnight on Wednesday, with police citing the suspect's status as
a member of the People's Consultative Assembly as the reason for
his release.

KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar was in Semarang on Thursday
and unavailable for comment.

Warouw said KONI officials must differentiate between
Novanto's business and personal affairs.

"There's a strict line between business and personal affairs.
You know most KONI officials have other business outside the
sports council," he said.

Novanto was one of six suspects in the Bank Bali scandal who
were detained by police on Tuesday. The other five suspects were
Djoko Sugiarto Chandra, Rudy Ramli, Rusli Suryadi, Firman
Sutjahja and Henri Kurniawan.

Novanto and Djoko are executives of PT Era Giat Prima (EGP).
Djoko is also the owner of the Hotel Mulia Senayan, which housed
athletes participating in the 19th Southeast Asian Games here two
years ago.

The construction of the five-star hotel sparked controversy,
with the Jakarta administration fining PT Jakarta Country Club,
which manages the hotel, Rp 15.13 billion (US$1.81 million) for
violating zoning restrictions.

"The chairman of KONI has the authority to decide whether to
keep a person in his post. The most important thing is that the
chairman will be held responsible at the 2003 National Congress,"
Warouw said.

Novanto is the second sports official to be embroiled in
scandal following former attorney general and Indonesian
Wrestling Association chairman Andi Ghalib, who was alleged to
have received bribes from businessmen his office was
investigating.

In the meantime, the deputy treasurer of KONI, ECW Neloe, will
take over Novanto's duties. Neloe is the vice president of PT
Chandra Asri, which is partly owned by one of former president
Soeharto's son Bambang Trihatmodjo's companies.

However, a KONI staff member who requested anonymity said
Neloe rarely came to KONI's office. The staff member also said
that every time KONI needed Neloe's approval on a check, a member
of the KONI staff had to bring the check to Neloe's office in the
Wisma Barito Pacific building in West Jakarta.

Warouw said that for KONI to develop sports in the country,
KONI officials had to be professionals.

"So far, it's really difficult to find people who are willing
to work full time in KONI. It's a volunteer job. It takes
sacrifice.

"We thought about it before we named the officials to KONI
earlier this year. But in the future, 100 percent of our
officials must be professionals. I believe by recruiting
professionals, athletes' development will improve," he said.
(yan)