Soeharto okays questioning of top officials

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto has cleared the way for the Attorney General's Office to question three former top government officials in connection with the investigation of the Rp 1.3 trillion loan scam at Bank Pembangunan Indonesia (Bapindo).

Attorney General Singgih told reporters yesterday after meeting with the head of state at the Merdeka Palace that he has been given permission by Soeharto to question Sudomo, J.B. Sumarlin and Nasruddin Sumintapura, but strictly as "witnesses."

The three men, all members of the cabinet until March 1993, have been implicated in the losses at the government-owned bank as the scandal continues to unfold.

Sudomo, now the chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council, was coordinating minister of political affairs and security. Sumarlin, now head of the Supreme Audit Body, was finance minister. Nasrudin was junior finance minister.

There have been allegations that the three played a role in putting pressure on Bapindo executives to grant loans to businessman Eddy Tansil in 1989.

Tansil and five Bapindo executives are now under arrest.

The three men are not under arrest but their testimony is relevant to supporting the government's case against the six suspects in the court trials, Singgih said, adding that Soeharto's consent was necessary given their positions.

Altogether, the government investigators have lined up 20 witnesses for the Bapindo trials, in which the Attorney General's office will be looking for convictions under the official corruption law.

He said the three men had all responded to written questions presented by his staff, but he declined to elaborate on their contents.

He did not rule out the possibility of the three testifying in court saying that much will depend on how the trial unfolds.

Asked on the likelihood that the government will also prosecute Sudomo, Sumarlin and Nasrudin, Singgih responded: "There are only six suspects as of today."

He added however that the government will not protect top government officials if they are found to have been involved in the scandal.

Reference

Sudomo has publicly acknowledged writing a letter of reference to Bapindo in support of Tansil's application for loans but has denied any wrongdoing, stressing that Bapindo directors were still free to turn the loan application down.

Singgih said that for "technical reasons," the first trials, which were originally expected to begin this month, have now been delayed and that his office would only hand its information to the courts at the end of April.

Singgih also repeated another appeal from President Soeharto to the press to refrain from conducting its own "trial," his third since the massive scandal drew the attention of the press in January.

The President was particularly concerned about the effects of the press reports on the families of suspects and witnesses. "Show some compassion for their families," Singgih quoted Soeharto as saying.

On a separate occasion, Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono disclosed yesterday that his office plans to announce some details of the Bapindo case to the public.

The briefing will be held this week, he said, without being specific. (02/par)