Sapuan questioned over Rp 35b scam

JAKARTA (JP): Police questioned on Thursday deputy chief of the National Logistics Agency (Bulog) Sapuan as a suspect in a Rp 35 billion scam which involved a masseur of President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Jakarta Police detective chief Col. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo said Sapuan, who was named a suspect on Tuesday and temporarily suspended as Bulog deputy chief the following day, admitted during the questioning that he had given the money to the masseur, Suwondo, in January.

Alex said Sapuan conceded during the questioning that the money was given in four checks between Jan. 13 and Jan. 21. Sapuan, according to Alex, could be charged with corruption for misusing the fund belonging to the Bulog foundation.

Police took Sapuan from his office on Jl. Gatot Subroto, South Jakarta around 1.30 p.m. The questioning was held 24 hours earlier from the original schedule "in order to speed up the investigation", according to Alex.

News reports said that Suwondo earlier asked Bulog for the money, saying it was needed for the "palace coffers". The request was reportedly rejected by then Bulog chief Yusuf Kalla but Suwondo then turned to Sapuan, who agreed to the request after he was promised a promotion to the Bulog chief post.

Abdurrahman asked police on Wednesday to arrest Suwondo for allegedly misusing his name to embezzle the funds.

"I knew nothing about it," Abdurrahman added, denying suggestions that he had been aware of the masseur's actions.

Revelation of the scandal sparked an uproar, with the media alleging the President's inner circle and relatives might have played a role in the embezzlement.

There were also rumors that foreign minister Alwi Shihab had received a portion of the money. Alwi on Wednesday flatly denied the allegations, calling them "a joke".

"I've talked of a new Indonesia and good governance everywhere. If I had been involved in the case, my credibility would be in doubt," he said.

Police said that Suwondo was believed to have fled to a neighboring Asian country -- most likely Thailand or Laos.

"We have contacted the international police to try to locate Suwondo," police spokesman Col. Saleh Saaf was quoted by SCTV as saying.

Earlier in the day, Bulog chief Rizal Ramli told the House of Representatives Commission III for Agriculture and Food Affairs that the money was to be used by some officials of the now- defunct ministry of food and horticulture to "lobby" members of the president's inner circle to help them keep their jobs.

"A number of former officials of the defunct ministry approached a number of people who claimed to be in the president's inner-circle to help them keep strategic positions in Bulog.

"Due to limited information, these officials were finally trapped in the game of the power brokers," Rizal said in a two- page statement.

Different from Sapuan's account, Rizal said that his deputy involved another person in the alleged swindle.

"Suwondo earned Rp 20 billion while another man who claimed to be close to the power holder also received, through Suwondo, Rp 15 billion," Rizal said.

Rizal shied away from fully naming the man and he only gave the man's initials as SS. News reports later said that the second man was Suko Sudarso, a member of Megawati Soekarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

Rizal said that the money was taken from a foundation for the Bulog's employees, Yanatera. He added that Bulog's main concern now was "how to return the money and the interest" to the employees.

"With regard to the matter, Sapuan and Suwondo have signed a statement that they will be fully responsible for the money and pledge to return the money to Yanatera before late August," Rizal said.

He also said that on Wednesday, both Suwondo and Sapuan had returned some Rp 1.575 billion to the foundation.

Chairman of the House Commission III, Awal Kusuma, said later in the day that legislators would question Sapuan in the near future to seek further clarification.

PDI Perjuangan has yet to issue any official statement on the matter, but deputy chairman Arifin Panigoro said on Thursday evening that the party would not protect its members who are proven guilty before the court.

"Let due process of law prove whether the allegations are true or not," Arifin told the Elshinta radio. (byg/dja)