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)