Police question Bulog employees in Zawawi case

JAKARTA (JP): Police questioned two State Logistics Agency (Bulog) employees at city police headquarters on Wednesday over alleged malfeasance in the distribution of rice in the capital.

Police needed the testimonies of Anton Wuriyanto and Heru Priyono to help determine whether former head of the Jakarta Logistics Agency (Dolog Jaya) Ahmad Zawawi had committed any wrongdoing during his tenure in office, said Lt. Col. Saut Usman Nasution, the head of the police economics crime unit.

Zawawi has been named as the main suspect for numerous illegal rice transactions and rice exports.

He admitted in earlier questioning that more than half of the daily rise supplies intended for market operations for Jakartans were frequently stolen.

The city's demand for rice was estimated at about 5,000 metric tons daily, but the agency distributed only 2,000 to 2,500 tons per day, Zawawi said.

"The remainder was sold illegally to Zawawi's close associates and other rice distributors, using fake delivery orders," Zawawi was quoted by police as saying.

These illegal practices caused rice prices to soar, thereby enabling suppliers and distributors who hoarded the commodity to sell it for bigger profits.

Usman said the police were likely to call more experts to assist them in the case.

"We want to finish this investigation as soon as possible with the help of experts in the field."

Police have reportedly summoned 49 witnesses, including Dolog Jaya staff members and rice distributors, in their investigation.

Usman said that police believed Zawawi had organized and initiated illegal rice transactions and had dealt with bogus distributors.

"His subordinates (the two Bulog employees) pointed at him when we ask whether there had been any wrongdoing in their office. So this was a one man show," Usman said.

When asked whether Zawawi had named other high Bulog officials as being involved in any wrongdoing, Usman refused to answer.

"I don't want to comment on that matter now. Let's concentrate on Dolog Jaya first," he said.

Usman, however, said that police had named a rice distributor in Bogor, identified as Cecep, as another suspect in the case since he had been allegedly found to be hoarding rice. (emf)