Police have no plans to question the President

Police have no plans to question the President

JAKARTA (JP): To date the police have no plans to question
President Abdurrahman Wahid in regard to the State Logistics
Agency (Bulog) financial scam, a policeman said on Monday.

"We are also still waiting for the result of the case, which
is still being examined in court," National Police spokesman
Brig. Gen. Didi Widajadi told reporters at his office on Monday.

Didi said questioning the President was not a priority,
because in June last year the police questioned Abdurrahman over
the Bulog scam.

During the questioning, police found no indication that
Abdurrahman was involved.

Bulog's former deputy chief Sapuan and the President's masseur
Agung Alip Suwondo are being tried separately for their alleged
roles in the fraudulent withdrawal of Bulog funds. Sapuan could
face 18 months in jail if convicted.

The House of Representatives two weeks ago submitted to the
National Police chief and attorney general a memorandum on the
President's alleged involvement in the Rp 35 billion (US$3.6
million) Bulog and $2 million Brunei scandals.

National Police chief of detectives Insp. Gen. Engkesman Hilep
said the police and the Attorney General's Office agreed on
Monday to divide the investigation of the two scandals.

The investigation into the Bulog scandal will be handled by
the police while the Attorney General's Office will probe the
Brunei affair, Engkesman said.

Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Yahya Staquf said on the
same day that the President was ready to be questioned by the
police for his alleged involvement in the two scams.

Yahya said that Abdurrahman was willing to be questioned
before leaving on a two-week trip to the Middle East and Africa
on Thursday.

Another presidential spokesman, Adhi Massardi, said that the
President "wants to get to the bottom" of the case and that his
willingness to be questioned was aimed at giving a clear
explanation of the issues. (byg/jun)