Rahardi reveals another conspiracy

Rahardi reveals another conspiracy

Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Golkar Party conspired to cover-up its involvement in the
Rp 40 billion Bulog scandal, a former minister of trade and
industry alleged in the South Jakarta District Court on Tuesday.

Rahardi Ramelan, also the former chief of the State Logistics
Agency (Bulog), is also facing charges in relation to the
corruption scandal that has captivated the nation.

Reading his 350-page personal defense, Rahardi said Golkar
colleagues Tanri Abeng and Setya Novanto asked for a meeting on
Sept. 26 last year while he was in Singapore undergoing a medical
checkup, three days before returning Jakarta to face the
prosecutors' questioning as a witness for the case.

"Setya offered to lobby the Attorney General's Office so
everybody could be saved ... But I rejected this. I told them
that I would tell the prosecutors everything I knew."

Tanri briefly served as the minister of state enterprises
during Soeharto's era. Setya is Golkar's treasurer and was
allegedly involved in the Rp 546 billion Bank Bali scandal in
2000. All suspects walked free because of what authorities said
was a lack of evidence.

Rahardi's allegations are a revelation. He has said previously
that he had two meetings with the team of lawyers retained by
Golkar party chairman Akbar Tandjung.

Rahardi said that during the meetings he was asked to lie and
to put all the blame on Bulog's former deputy director of
finance, Ahmad Ruskandar.

Rahardi is accused of misusing Rp 62.9 billion in Bulog funds.
Some Rp 40 billion allegedly went to then minister/state
secretary Akbar for a charity program to provide food for the
poor.

Akbar, the speaker of the House of Representatives, has been
sentenced to three years jail for his role in the corruption of
the money. He has yet to be placed behind bars and is refusing to
resign from any of his posts.

What actually happened to the money remains unclear but many
believe that Akbar channeled the money to bankroll Golkar's 1999
election campaign.
Indonesian Military chief Gen. (ret.) Wiranto admitted he got
Rp 10 billion to finance operations in East Timor while the rest
was allegedly used for other purposes, including for athletes and
the presidential guards.

Prosecutor Yahya Kemas Rahman sought a five-year jail term for
Rahardi for abusing his power to disburse the money in a bid to
enrich others or particular institutions. Rahardi's actions had
inflicted losses on the state, he said.

Rahardi maintained he was only the scapegoat of a political
feud. In his defense he insisted that what he had done was in
accordance with Bulog common practices and the president's
orders.

His team of lawyers will read out their defense on Wednesday.