Prosecutors to file Beddu charges

Prosecutors to file Beddu charges

JAKARTA (JP): State prosecutors plan to either bring
corruption charges on Monday against former chief of the State
Logistics Agency (Bulog), Beddu Amang, or to extend his house
arrest status for another 30 days, an official said on Saturday.

The Jakarta Prosecutors' Office assistant for special crimes,
Andi Syarifuddin, said that his team needed more time to complete
the charges, which center on Beddu's alleged abuse of power in a
land exchange deal in 1995.

"We are eager to win the case, so we have to be careful in
preparing the indictment. I hope to file it with the South
Jakarta District Court on Monday, but if we cannot, then we'll
extend his detention," Andi said.

Andi also revealed that the indictment against Beddu would
also cover the involvement of businessman Hokiarto.

Beddu was initially under the custody of the Attorney
General's Office but was placed under house arrest on Dec. 4 due
to illness.

His arrest term will expire on Tuesday.

Beddu was indicted last year for his alleged involvement in
the land exchange deal with wholesale firm PT Goro Batara Sakti,
which caused Rp 76.7 billion in state losses.

The same case resulted in former president Soeharto's favorite
son Hutomo Mandala Putra and his business associate Ricardo
Gelael, commissioner and executive of PT Goro respectively, being
sentenced to 18 months in prison by the Supreme Court. (bby)