TNI chief's approval sought for questioning Ginandjar
TNI chief's approval sought for questioning Ginandjar
JAKARTA (JP): Former minister of mines and energy Ginandjar
Kartasasmita, a suspect in graft cases involving state oil and
gas company Pertamina and a local partner, said on Tuesday that
he is awaiting the Indonesian Military (TNI) chief's approval
prior to testifying before the prosecutors.
"I have been summoned to testify at the Attorney General's
Office on Thursday (March 22, 2001).
"But, I have yet to receive approval from the TNI chief (which
is required) because I am a retired military officer but was
active when the incident occurred," Ginandjar told a media
conference.
"Hopefully, the TNI chief will give his approval tomorrow
(Wednesday)," he said.
Ginandjar, who is now deputy Speaker of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR), denied that he had committed any
wrongdoings during his term in Cabinet.
"I will testify to assist the investigation, but I cannot
accept being declared a suspect," he said, while citing that he
has been summoned to testify as a witness.
The Attorney General's Office has named Ginandjar and his
successor IB Sudjana as suspects in corruption cases involving
Pertamina, which allegedly resulted in US$24.8 million in state
losses.
The Office has previously named another two suspects in the
same cases, including former Pertamina president Faisal Abda'oe
and PT Ustraindo director Praptono H. Hupojo, a relative of
former first lady, the late Tien Soeharto.
Attorney General's Office spokesman Muljohardjo said Ginandjar
is alleged to have illegally approved four technical assistance
contracts between Pertamina and private oil company PT Ustraindo
Petrogas in early 1992 and 1993.
"Our investigations and witness' statements conclude that
Ginandjar, as the minister of mines from 1988 until 1993 and
chief commissioner of Pertamina, approved the deals in violation
of regulations regarding technical assistance contracts for oil
development, causing $18 million in state losses," Muljohardjo
has said.
The spokesman said his office had found during its
investigations that the deals between Pertamina and PT Ustraindo
violated regulations on technical assistance contracts because
they covered oil fields which were still productive at the time.
Moreover, while regulations required PT Ustraindo to pay the
costs of oil development in the contract areas, it was Pertamina
who actually bore the costs, Muljohardjo added.
"Sudjana, as the minister of mines and Pertamina's chief
commissioner from 1993 to 1998 also breached laws by approving
amendments to the contracts, resulting in losses of $6.8 million
to the state," he said.
Ginandjar, who is taking a break from a one-year overseas
lecture program, which commenced last August, dismissed the
allegations saying that he was only responsible for preparation
of the contracts, not their implementation.
"The Technical Assistance Contract (TAC) between Pertamina and
PT Ustraindo was part of the government's policy to improve our
nation's independence through the oil and gas sector.
"And I was not involved in the implementation of the
contracts," he said.
The contracts with PT Ustraindo covered oil fields in Bunyu,
E. Kalimantan; Prabumulih and Pendopo in South Sumatra; and
Jatibarang on the north coast of West Java.
Ginandjar, a retired three-star Air Force general, suggested
that he is the target of a political conspiracy.
"I have been accused of supplying arms to the Maluku province
and financing unrest in several parts of the country.
"The accusations are groundless and I have proof that I have
been active in academic activities in the United States and
Japan," he said. (imn)