Others to follow Suwondo's suit to return Bulog money

Others to follow Suwondo's suit to return Bulog money

JAKARTA (JP): Inspired by Suwondo's move to repay Rp 10
billion of an overall Rp 35 billion (US$4.1 million) fund he
secured from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), others allegedly
implicated in the scandal will soon follow the suit of President
Abdurrahman Wahid's masseur, a senior police officer said on
Wednesday.

National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo said Rp 30 billion of
the Rp 35 billion fund from Bulog's employees foundation Yanatera
would be returned within the week to Yanatera.

"Once we get hold of Leo Purnomo, we'll then be able to secure
the last Rp 5 billion," Rusdihardjo announced after a ceremony
marking the installation of Col. Nurudin Usman as the new
National Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) chief, replacing Brig.
Gen. Firman Gani who will soon be installed as the new Maluku
Police chief.

"We'll get to Leo. Don't worry," he said.

Rusdihardjo was referring to a staff member at Air Wagon
(AWAIR) air freight, who reportedly cashed a Rp 5 billion check
issued by Bank Bukopin on Jan. 13, 2000.

City police chief of detectives for economic crimes Maj. Tito
Karnavian said Leo, who formerly lived on Jl. Mandala IX/10 in
Tomang, West Jakarta, disappeared two weeks ago.

"We'll get him to speak to us by force if he refuses to show
up at city police headquarters," Tito said.

City police have so far declared three suspects in the Rp 35
billion Bulog scam, namely former Bulog deputy chief Sapuan, who
ordered the disbursement of the fund, Yanatera foundation
chairman Mulyono and Suwondo, who is still at large.

Of the total embezzled Rp 35 billion, Rp 10 billion was
officially returned on Wednesday by Suwondo's wife, Teti
Nursetiati (not Teti Sunarti), to representatives of Yanatera.
Teti initially returned the money to the National Police
Headquarters on Tuesday.

The other Rp 20 billion comprises Rp 5 billion which went to
the account of Siti Farika, a Central Java-based businesswoman,
and Rp 15 billion, which went to a bank account of deputy
chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI
Perjuangan) research and development department head, Suko
Sudarso.

Tito said Siti would return the Rp 5 billion from a check
cashed at a BCA bank to the city police headquarters on Thursday.

Siti was questioned on Wednesday at city police headquarters
as a witness in the Bulog scam.

"She has denied knowing Suwondo. She said that she and a man
identified as Aris Junaidi were going into a joint-venture wood
business ... and that the money was his share," Tito said.

"We'll summon Aris for questioning as a witness on Friday. We
want to know if Aris and Siti really set up the joint venture."

Tito also hinted that the Rp 15 billion which went to Suko
Sudarso's bank account had virtually gone.

Jakarta Police chief of detectives Col. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo
earlier said on Tuesday that the money had allegedly been used to
pay for the purchase of land in South Cianjur, West Java, which
was to be used by Suwondo to build a garden house.

Tito said a man identified as Hans Gunawan, who is in the
business of land appropriation, had managed to appropriate 100
hectares of land in South Cianjur from local residents at the
request of a friend named Hendrie Arioseno, who was willing to
pay Rp 15 billion for the land.

"Suwondo wanted 200 hectares but Hendrie could only arrange
100 hectares, via Hans. Suwondo paid Hendrie Rp 15 billion, which
was in turn given to Hans as payment for the land," Tito said.

He said the police intended to hand over on Thursday the land
certificates for the 100 hectares in South Cianjur, currently in
the hands of notary Ali Maksum, to Yanatera.

Separately, Tito said palace staffer Wahyu Muryadi told
investigators on Tuesday evening that Sapuan's name was not on
the presidential palace guest list on Jan. 7. Sapuan alleged he
had a meeting with the President on that date. The list has been
confiscated by police as evidence.

"However, what Wahyu said is not important to the case ...
since Gus Dur himself earlier told the media that he had met with
Sapuan on that day to speak about aid," Tito said.

Meanwhile Mohammad Assegaf, chief of Sapuan's team of lawyers,
said on Wednesday they had planned to file a lawsuit against
Abdurrahman Wahid at the Jakarta State Administrative Court over
the President's decision to dismiss Sapuan.

"The President reneged on his word by dismissing Sapuan on May
30 when the case was still under police investigation and he was
yet to be proven guilty in court," Assegaf said on the sidelines
of a pretrial hearing in the South Jakarta District Court.

In Wonosobo, Central Java, chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama
(NU) Muslim organization Hasyim Muzadi said the NU would not
interfere with the investigation into the Bulog scandal.

"Indeed, the Bulog scandal has severely ruined NU's image. But
it's for sure that there are certain parties who want to corner
NU in this matter," Hasyim said during a visit here on Tuesday
night.

"But whatever happens, the NU will stick around to support Gus
Dur," he said, referring to President Abdurrahman by his
nickname.

Hasyim also dismissed speculation that NU members received
money from the Bulog fund. (08/asa/bby/edt/har/ylt)