Supreme Court puts Rahardi behind bars for two years

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Former head of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) Rahardi Ramelan attended a ceremony at the State Palace to celebrate National Technology Day on Wednesday.

Rahardi, dressed in a brown suit, appeared cheerful as he shook hands with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and other high-ranking officials, despite reports that the Supreme Court had discreetly rejected his appeal last year and sentenced him to two years in prison for corruption.

A panel of justices led by Justice Iskandar Kamil turned down his appeal on Oct. 27 last year, a court registrar said. But surprisingly, the copy of the verdict was sent to the South Jakarta District Court, which originally handled the case, only last week. A Supreme Court verdict is final and binding.

Supreme Court spokesman Djoko Upoyo said only that the delay was due to an "administrative obstacle".

Rahardi acknowledged that he had been informed of the Supreme Court ruling, but had yet to be incarcerated because he had not yet been given a copy of the verdict.

"I have not yet received a copy of the verdict," he told reporters, who swarmed around him after the ceremony.

"I have been sentenced to two years in prison and may celebrate Independence Day in jail, but I don't know which one," he said.

Rahardi, who was also a minister of industry and trade during the administration of former president BJ Habibie, said he was ready to serve his jail term even though he considered the verdict unfair.

Rahardi was convicted for his involvement in what was called the Buloggate I scandal, which involved the misuse of Rp 62.7 billion ($6 million) in Bulog funds.

Rahardi was arrested on Feb. 7, 2002. He was placed under city arrest on May 7 of that year and later sentenced to two years by the South Jakarta District Court. He then appealed to the Jakarta High Court, which increased his sentence to four years, but released him from detention.

Rahardi said he had served 69 days at Cipinang Penitentiary.

He reiterated that his case was "a political case that had been twisted into a graft case". The case, Rahardi said, had been manipulated.

"I did disburse the money, but it was paid back to the state. It was actually a diversion from procedure but I have been convicted for graft. The case has been manipulated, but what can I do?" Rahardi said, adding that he would abide by the law.

Rahardi said that he would write about his case so that the public could learn about the injustices in the case.

Buloggate I led to the Rp 40 billion Buloggate II embezzlement scandal, in which then Golkar Party leader Akbar Tandjung was implicated. The funds were earmarked for a food program for the poor in 1999 which never materialized. Akbar was state secretary when the alleged crime took place.

The Supreme Court acquitted Akbar last year despite two accomplices being found guilty in the case. The Central Jakarta District Court initially handed Akbar a three-year prison sentence, which was upheld by the Jakarta High Court.