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)