Tutut questioned over alleged oil project markup
JAKARTA (JP): Businesswoman Siti Hardijanti Hastuti "Tutut" Rukmana went to the Attorney General's Office on Monday and was questioned for 10 hours over an alleged markup of a US$306 million government oil project.
The eldest daughter of former president Soeharto said she brought along documents to prove that she was innocent and that none of the money that her company, PT Triharsa Bimanusa Tunggal, received was used by her personally.
"I brought evidence that proves that none of my statement was made up," she told journalists after the questioning, which ended at 7 p.m.
PT Triharsa was awarded a project to construct an oil pipeline in Java for state oil and gas company Pertamina and had received $36.69 million in payment for 14.4 percent of the work that it claimed was completed after the project was halted in 1992.
It turned out that only 6.4 percent of the work had been completed and the amount that should have been paid was only $14 million.
Tutut is the third Soeharto family member to be implicated in a graft case. Her younger brother Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra became a fugitive fleeing an 18-month conviction last year, while their father, Soeharto, who is currently being treated at Pertamina Hospital after an appendectomy, could face trial in a $571 million graft case if he is declared fit enough to stand trial.
The Supreme Court has ordered state prosecutors to oversee Soeharto's medical treatment and for the state to cover the expense.
The Attorney General's Office appointed a 23-member medical team from Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) to treat Soeharto.
Vice director for medical services Ichramsjah A. Rachman heads the medical team and is aided by neurologist Yusuf Misbach. Others on the team include RSCM director Hermansyur Kartowisastro, Teguh A.S. Ranakusuma, Sidiharto and Budi Sampurno.
On Monday, the team observed Soeharto's medical record to assess whether the 79-year-old former ruler should receive intensive medical treatment in hospital.
Tutut, however, said that the family would prefer Soeharto was treated at home.
"We do not object if another team of doctors wants to treat Bapak ... but he doesn't need to be hospitalized because it may worsen his condition. He should go out often to help his failing memory.
"If he should be treated by the state, hopefully it won't violate my father's rights," she said, adding that her father had yet to recover following the appendectomy.
Chief prosecutor Muchtar Arifin and South Jakarta Prosecutor's Office head Antasari Azhar visited Soeharto at the hospital to officially inform him of the state's plan to take over the former president's medication.
"We have talked with the family and the lawyer, who were waiting at the hospital, since Pak Harto was sleeping and they didn't object to the plan," Muchtar said.
Also on Monday, the Attorney General's Office detained former Bank Indonesia directors Hendro Budiyanto and Heru Supraptomo for allegedly abusing their power in extending emergency loans to a number of banks.
The two along with colleague Paul Sutopo were named suspects by prosecutors last Tuesday for failing to exercise their authority against the now defunct PT Bank Harapan Sentosa and PT Bank Dagang Negara Indonesia, which were reportedly not entitled to receive loans.
Lawyer T. Nasrullah, who accompanied the three during questioning, said his clients only carried out the central bank's policy as instructed by then president Soeharto.
The prosecutors also named three executives of the recipient banks as suspects for misusing the emergency loans -- Sumeri from PT Ficorinvest Bank, H.R. Rembart from PT Bank Pinaesaan and Hendi Sumardio from Southeast Asia Bank.
The prosecutors found that some Rp 138.4 trillion of the money, which was extended to 48 banks between 1997 and 1999, had been mischanneled.
Several former owners and directors of the recipient banks have also been named suspects, but so far only officials of Bank Aspac have been prosecuted. (bby)