Suwondo testifies at House on his role in Buloggate

JAKARTA (JP): Alip Agung Suwondo, the main suspect in the alleged misuse of Rp 35 billion from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) foundation Yanatera, testified on Friday before the House of Representatives' special committee probing the case.

No words, however, came out of his mouth as he left the session after four hours of questioning, to the disappointment of newsmen who had patiently waited outside the meeting room.

None of the committee members were willing either to comment on whether Suwondo responded to allegations that President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid knew about the scandal.

"My client could not answer all questions during the session because he is not in good health. Besides we are not allowed to reveal the content of the questioning," Suwondo's lawyer Denny Azani Latief said.

Bachtiar Chamsyah, who chairs the special committee, hailed Suwondo for giving important testimony which supports that of other witnesses.

"The special committee is satisfied in principle with Suwondo's testimony, the result of which 98 percent of our investigation on Buloggate has been completed," he said.

He said that during the meeting, Suwondo frequently said "I forget" to questions about happenings surrounding the scandal but did not forget all things concerning money.

"Please, interpret for yourself this statement but I can't reveal the meeting's substance to anyone, including the press. The most important thing is that you should not start something with a massage," he said, referring to Suwondo's earlier job as Abdurrahman's masseur.

Bachtiar said tension marred the meeting with Suwondo's lawyer frequently interrupted the questioning.

Alvin Lie, deputy chairman of the special committee, and Julius Usman, a committee member, walked out of the meeting in protest of the wave of interruptions.

Other committee members who requested for anonymity said that Suwondo testified that he never asked Sapuan, former Bulog deputy chief, to disburse the funds.

"I didn't ask Sapuan to disburse the funds. He offered the funds and, then, I received them," one of the sources quoted Suwondo as saying.

The source said Suwondo was referring to explanations which were given to the special committee by former trade and industry minister Yusuf Kalla, former National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo and Baharuddin Lopa, Indonesian ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The witnesses testified the President was allegedly in the scandal.

"A part of Suwondo's answers to the committee's questions support other witnesses' testimony," said another source.

Bachtiar said the House had sent a letter to the President asking him to fulfill its summons on Friday night or next Monday.

Meanwhile, the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction at the House attacked the 50-member special committee which it said was too arrogant in carrying out the investigation.

"The special committee is too arrogant because it assumes the President is involved in the scandals," Taufikurrahman Saleh, chairman of the PKB faction said in a press conference on Friday.

Abdurrahman is the party's chief patron. (rms)