Rahardi turns self in, begins serving jail term

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Before surrendering to prosecutors to serve a two-year prison sentence for corruption, Rahardi Ramelan, 65, spent his last free moments exchanging hugs, tears and farewells with about 30 friends and family members at an upmarket cafe on Monday.

He tried his best to explain to his five-year-old grandson, who lives in the same house as him, what going to jail meant.

"I have to go for a while, but I'll be back," he said. "Take care of Grandma for me."

Rahardi, who was convicted for misappropriating Rp 5 billion (US$ 510,000) while leading the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) seven years ago, then headed to the South Jakarta Prosecutor's Office to turn himself in.

Once there, the former minister of industry and trade in the Habibie administration transferred from his shiny Toyota Land Cruiser to a wornout government car that shuttled him to Cipinang Penitentiary in East Jakarta.

"I commend him for coming here voluntarily, he is setting a good example for other convicted felons," said South Jakarta prosecutor Iskamto.

The Supreme Court in October 2004 upheld Rahardi's two-year sentence handed down by the lower courts in 2002 and 2003 respectively.

Iskamto said that although the Supreme Court ruled on the case 10 months ago, his office had only received a copy of the ruling on Monday. Without a copy, his office was unable to execute the sentence.

Rahardi expressed hope that due to time already served while he was on trial and remissions for good behavior that he would be free within 10 months.

"I am tired of the four-year ordeal, I just want to get it over with," he said.

Despite going to prison, Rahardi, who also served briefly in former president Soeharto's Cabinet, continued to maintain his innocence.

"I have been sacrificed in a political scheme," he said. "It sickens me that the true culprits are able to look in the mirror and still laugh."

Although Rahardi refrained from naming anybody, his lawyer, Trimoelja Soerjadi, was more blunt.

"The one who should be in jail is Akbar Tandjung," he said. "The Supreme Court has used double standards."

He was referring to the Supreme Court overturning last year a three-year prison sentence in a Rp 40 billion corruption case, also involving Bulog funds, handed to the former speaker of the House of Representatives, Akbar.

During Rahardi's trial, it was revealed that he authorized the disbursement of Rp 40 billion from nonbudgetary Bulog funds to Akbar Tandjung. The funds were earmarked for a food program for the poor, but never reached their intended recipients.

The revelation led to a separate corruption trial for Akbar, who was then also leader of the Golkar Party. The Central Jakarta District Court handed Akbar a three-year prison sentence, which was upheld by the Jakarta High Court.

However, Akbar's sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court, despite upholding the guilty verdicts of two of his colleagues. (002)