President denies scam involvement

President denies scam involvement

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid went on national
television on Tuesday to deny his involvement in two natorious
financial scandals.

"I have already stated to the House special committee during
our last meeting that all information on this is untrue ... I am
not involved in anything," Abdurrahman told a pre-recorded talk
show hosted by his spokesman, Wimar Witoelar.

The show was first aired by private television channel
Indosiar at 12 a.m. then relayed by national television TVRI
later in the afternoon.

Abdurrahman's statement came after the House of special
committee reported on Monday in a closed-door session that
Abdurrahman was implicated in the scandals.

The first scandal concerns Rp 35 billion (US$3.9 million)
received last year from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog)
foundation by Abdurrahman's masseur, Alip Agung Suwondo.

The second concerns a US$2 million donation from the sultan of
Brunei that Abdurrahman said was a personal gift to be used for
humanitarian assistance in Aceh. Only part of the funds have been
accounted for.

The special committee presented its findings to the House
plenary session late Monday and the legislative body is due to
decide its position on the findings on Thursday.

Police have placed Suwondo and former Bulog deputy chairman
Sapuan in custody in connection with the Bulog scandal.

Abdurrahman also denied that he had summoned Sapuan to the
presidential palace early last year.

"I have been said to be the one who was taking the initiative
in summoning Sapuan, but actually I was only summoning him from
the waiting room (at the palace) to my office ... so Sapuan's
presence at the time was on his own initiative," Abdurrahman
said.

Commenting on the donation from the Sultan of Brunei,
Abdurrahman said: "I accepted the gift, but it doesn't mean that
I received it directly ... I received it in the sense that the
gift was for the Indonesian people".

Gus Dur, as the President is called, added that "I have never
seen the check, I have never seen anything".

He said the money was collected by (Ario) Wowor and
distributed to some groups in Aceh by Masnuh, the deputy
treasurer of Nahdlatul Ulama Muslim organization that Abdurrahman
led for 15 years.

Abdurrahman admitted, however, that he had "supplied
information" to Masnuh on where the money should be channeled in
Aceh.

"But, all the money can be accounted for," the President said.

The House special committee said earlier that Abdurrahman and
Masnuh had given inconsistent testimony on the donation from the
sultan.

A leaked report of the special committee, a copy of which was
obtained by The Jakarta Post on Tuesday, said the President once
told the committee that the donation was for humanitarian causes
in Aceh, West Kalimantan, Maluku and Irian Jaya.

But, the report said, Masnuh told the committee that the money
was aimed at financing humanitarian operations in Aceh and Riau.

The report also said Masnuh had told the committee that some
60 percent of the money, or around Rp 8.4 billion, had been
disbursed and between Rp 5 billion to Rp 6 billion was channeled
to Aceh, while Abdurrahman said that only Rp 4.2 billion was
given to Aceh.

Abdurrahman also lashed out at the press on Tuesday for
printing what he called "groundless accusations" against him.

He said that he could take those responsible to court.

"But the result would be that there would be many newspapers
and television stations that would no longer dare carry news on
the government," he said.

"Therefore I opt to remain silent ... the people are mature
and in their own time they will make their own judgment,"
Abdurrahman said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Abdurrahman said he was taking a three-day
break to monitor events unfolding in the DPR.

"Because of the Pansus (special committee) fuss ... I
intentionally have been taking a break since yesterday until
tomorrow (Wednesday) to monitor the developments without being
disturbed by a lot of people," Abdurrahman said. (byg)