Sapuan reads defense in tears

JAKARTA (JP): The former deputy head of State Logistics Agency (Bulog) broke into tears as he read out his defense statement at the South Jakarta District Court, saying that he had sacrificed himself for the head of state in a bid to unite the nation.

Sapuan, 67, is facing a possible 18-year jail term for allegedly embezzling Rp 35 billion (US$3.6 million) belonging to Yanatera, the foundation of Bulog employees.

The defendant had admitted allowing President Abdurrahman Wahid's masseur Alip Agung Suwondo to withdraw the money in January last year because Suwondo told him that the President needed the funds for humanitarian aid in Aceh.

"I sacrificed myself to help you Pak Kyai (Leader of Islam, referring to President Abdurrahman Wahid) unite the nation, but I have, in fact, been sacrificed as part of a conspiracy," Sapuan said in his personal defense entitled Pledoi Sang Tumbal (Defense of the Victim).

Sapuan has denied any wrongdoing, saying that he disbursed the money in the belief that it was requested by the President.

The House of Representatives earlier this month asked the National Police chief and the Attorney General's Office to take legal action against President Abdurrahman for his alleged involvement in the case. The President said this week he was ready for questioning, but the police said that they had no plans to question Gus Dur, pending the result of the trials in the case. Police also said that an investigation in June indicated that he was not involved.

Suwondo, who has spent several months in hiding since news of the scandal broke in April last year, is being tried in North Jakarta District Court.

As Sapuan was crying, the reading of his defense was continued by lawyer Muhammad Assegaf.

Assegaf blamed the prosecutors for lack of courage in demanding the President to testify in the trial.

"Abdurrahman Wahid has ignored a good opportunity to clarify things related to him in this case," he said.

He said that the court needed his testimony to decide whether or not Sapuan was guilty.

"All witnesses during the hearing mentioned the name of Abdurrahman Wahid, how could the court relate and compile all witnesses' testimony systematically without examining the President?" Assegaf questioned.

Responding to the prosecution, Assegaf said there was no reason for Sapuan not to trust Suwondo because he was the agent who arranged Sapuan's meeting with President on Jan. 7 last year.

According to Assegaf, part of the prosecutors' indictment was inaccurate, incorrect and was based on wrongly held assumptions.

As an example, he said, prosecutors stated that Sapuan met Suwondo as the President's trustee in 1998. "The fact was that Sapuan met Suwondo in December, 1999 and Abdurrahman Wahid had not become President in 1998," Assegaf said.

Presiding judge Lalu Mariyun adjourned the hearing until Feb. 27 to hear prosecutors' counter statements against the defense. (01)