Presidential guards spent Rp 2.2b of Bulog funds
Presidential guards spent Rp 2.2b of Bulog funds
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A former chief of the presidential guards testified on Tuesday
that former chief of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) Rahardi
Ramelan had granted his request for Rp 2.2 billion, which was
taken from the agency's non-budgetary fund.
Maj. Gen. Suwandi told the South Jakarta District Court on
Tuesday that he spent the money to buy ammunition, metal
detectors and other equipment as well as to build garages to
house several cars for state guests.
He said that he asked Rahardi for the money because he had a
close relationship with former president B.J. Habibie.
"He had a close relationship with Pak Habibie and he was
concerned about the safety of Pak Habibie as president therefore
I requested the fund from him."
Suwandi, who now serves as a lecturer at the Indonesian
Defense Institute (Lemhanas), admitted that he asked Rahardi, who
was then also the minister of industry and trade, for the money
on three occasions.
Rahardi's aide, Bustan Jufri, handed over a total of Rp 2.2
billion to the presidential guard's assistant for logistics in
three lots on Feb. 12, May 5 and Sept. 27, 1999.
Suwandi said that he had given written reports to the military
headquarters about the use of the money. He also said that he had
told Habibie about it.
Rahardi, in response to Suwandi's statement, claimed that the
witness had asked him for some money by phone.
"I recognized your voice," Rahardi said.
But Suwandi replied, "I never made a phone call. I've always
made written requests when I asked any party for some money."
Rahardi is on trial for the alleged misappropriation of Rp
62.9 billion of Bulog's non-budgetary fund in 1999. Some Rp 40
billion went to then state secretary/minister Akbar Tandjung.
Another Rp 10 billion went to Gen. Wiranto, then minister of
defense and TNI chief. The rest was used for various purposes,
including for the presidential guards and for the Indonesian
Swimming Association (PRSI) which was headed by Rahardi.
In the hearing last week, Habibie testified via live video-
linkup from Hamburg that he ordered Rahardi to disburse Rp 40
billion for Akbar for a humanitarian project, and another Rp 10
billion for Wiranto. But he said he knew nothing about the use of
the other Rp 12.9 billion.
Wiranto had earlier said that he spent the money to provide
security for the 1999 General Session.
Many believe that Akbar used the Rp 40 billion to campaign for
Habibie, who eventually lost his seat.
Akbar, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and leader
of Golkar party, however, has denied the accusation.
He is being tried separately on corruption charges.