Verdict on Sapuan to be handed down on March 20

JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta District Court will hand down on March 20 the verdict for former deputy chief of State Logistics Agency (Bulog) Sapuan, who is being tried for allegedly embezzling Rp 35 billion (US$3.6 million).

"We need three weeks to consider a fair verdict on the case," presiding judge Lalu Mariyun said Tuesday.

Earlier in the hearing, in a counter statement against the defendant's and his lawyer's defense last week, state prosecutors led by Nulis Sembiring insisted that Sapuan was guilty of embezzling the funds belonging to the foundation of Bulog employees, Yanatera, and therefore he must be sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Sembiring said that the defense statement was merely an expression of the defendant's feelings.

"Therefore, we request the panel of judges to ignore such a defense statement," Sembiring said.

The 67-year old Sapuan last week broke into tears as he presented his defense statement, saying that he was only a victim of a conspiracy. He said that he disbursed the money upon the request of Alip Agung Suwondo, who is being tried separately, Suwondo told him the President needed the money for humanitarian aid in Aceh.

Prosecutors also said that the defendant had been wrong as former Bulog chief Yusuf Kalla testified on Oct. 10 last year that Sapuan violated procedures for failing to report to him about the disbursement of the money.

Sembiring said that Yusuf had told the court that he was never aware of Sapuan's decision to disburse the money. The Yanatera statute stipulates that the release of any sum above Rp 500 million must have the Bulog chief's approval.

Sembiring also said that due to his preoccupation with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Yusuf delegated the day-to-day management of Bulog to Sapuan, but he never authorized him to approve the disbursement of such an amount of money. (01)