Suspect returns Rp 32.5 billion Bulog money: AGO

Suspect returns Rp 32.5 billion Bulog money: AGO

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The high-profile financial scandal involving House of
Representatives speaker Akbar Tandjung took a peculiar turn when
it was revealed Saturday that one of the case's primary suspects
had returned Rp 32.5 billion of the funds allegedly swindled
before he was detained on Thursday.

Attorney General's Office spokesman Barman Zahir revealed that
Winfried Simatupang, the contractor hired to disperse food
packages bought with Rp 40 billion from the State Logistics
Agency (Bulog), had returned the money to investigators last
week.

Barman said Winfried promised to return the remaining amount
by the end of the month.

The money was now kept in a Bank Mandiri account belonging to
the Attorney General's Office.

According to Barman, Winfried told investigators that he still
had possession of the money, but fell short of outrightly
admitting that the food distribution program never existed.

The revelation made by the Attorney General's Office comes
just 48-hours after Akbar and Winfried were thrown into a
detention cell.

There was no clear explanation why prosecutors had only now
made this important development public, saying only that it was
part of the investigative strategy.

Barman insisted that the return of the funds would not alter
the case against suspects Winfried, Akbar or Dadang Sukandar, the
chairman of Raudlatul Jannah Foundation which hired Winfried to
disburse food packages for those most affected by the economic
crisis in 1999.

"This will not erase the crime committed ... the three
suspects will remain in detention," Barman said.

However, he conceded that it could be a mitigating
circumstance in the eventual sentencing if the suspects are found
guilty.

Barman also claimed that the dossiers on all three would be
ready by the end of this month.

The detention of Akbar on Thursday was a pinnacle in
investigations into the multi-billion rupiah scandal which has
also shocked the mighty Golkar Party, throwing it into some
disarray.

The scandal centers on the disbursement of Rp 40 billion for
relief assistance to the poor in 1999. It is alleged that the
money found its way into Golkar coffers, or was even divided for
campaign funds by major political parties.

Akbar, who at the time was Minister/State Secretary, had been
given the green light by then President B.J. Habibie to disburse
the funds for food.

While he admits to having attended a presentation held by
Dadang and Winfried on plans for the distribution of food, Akbar
maintains that he knew little of the follow-up process.

But counter testimony from Akbar's own colleagues has raised
doubts over the Golkar Party's statements.

Akbar has had to recant his initial claim that he did not know
the amount of funds involved, and former Golkar colleague Haryono
Suyono rejected Akbar's statement that it was he who recommended
Dadang's foundation carry out the project.

Meanwhile the glut of high-profile figures, mostly from
Golkar, visiting Akbar continued on Saturday despite a sign
posted saying that visits were only allowed on Monday, Wednesday,
and Friday.

Among them were Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare
Jusuf Kalla, former minister of justice Oetojo Oesman, former
minister of social affairs Anak Agung Gede Agung and Golkar board
of patron's member Cosmas Batubara.

Akbar's wife Krisnina Maharani also visited accompanied by
Golkar legislators Komariah Kuncoro and Evita Asmalda.

Krisnina refused to speak to journalists but Komariah noted
that Akbar "looks exhausted".

Akbar's daughter Triana Krisna, still dressed in her junior-
high school uniform, also paid a visit bringing a cake for her
father.