Suwondo testifies at House on his role in Buloggate

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)