Wiranto promises military not to protect Ghalib

JAKARTA (JP): Confusion reigned on Friday over the legal status of former president Soeharto's chief investigator, Lt. Gen. Andi M. Ghalib, who stepped aside from the post of attorney general following allegations he had amassed Rp 13 billion through bribery and corruption.

Following Military Police Commander Maj. Gen. Djasrie Marin's denial on Thursday that the corps had named Ghalib a suspect in its investigations, after recalling a letter that did refer to Ghalib as a suspect, Indonesian Military Commander Gen. Wiranto said the annulment decision had been made some time ago.

Wiranto also called on Djasrie to immediately launch an investigation into the charges and to clarify Ghalib's status so the case did not tarnish the military's image. On top of all this, Wiranto said he has not intervened and he would not shield Ghalib in the investigations.

"There's a delegation of authority (regarding the investigations)," he said in a television interview. "Later, if things are made official, then there will be reports to me."

Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesman Brig. Gen. Sudradjat said on Friday that Wiranto had ordered the Military Police to investigate the case "immediately" and "thoroughly".

"General Wiranto is committed to solving the case," Sudradjat said.

"The military leadership wants the case to be investigated thoroughly and we do not want this case to eventually tarnish the military's image," he said after a meeting with Wiranto at TNI Headquarters in Central Jakarta on Friday.

Sudradjat also said the Military Police had been asked to determine whether Ghalib could be named a suspect in corruption investigations.

"The Military Police should immediately announce to the public whether it has adequate evidence that Ghalib was involved in the alleged bribery. If he is treated as a suspect his dossier should be sent to the military prosecutor... and the prosecutor should bring the case to the tribunal.

"Let the tribunal decide whether Ghalib is guilty or not in the case, and send him to prison for any wrongdoing," he said.

Sudradjat also commented on Djasrie's statement that his office had mistakenly sent a letter to the National Police, rather than to the military prosecutor, asking the national police to request access to Ghalib's account from the central bank. Sudradjat said the military leadership would study the reported procedural error.

In the letter, Ghalib was referred to as a suspect.

Sudradjat said it was the military prosecutors who should determine whether a dossier on a case was acceptable. He said Ghalib could be named a suspect if several criteria were met, including "a letter from the National Police, witnesses, those who were harmed, those who benefited, or (material) that supported the case".

The witnesses could be from the banks involved, he said as quoted by Antara. "It would be even better if coordinator of the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) Teten Masduki was willing to be a witness."

"This case is open already, so Teten should be willing to testify," he said.

Teten had earlier stated his refusal to become a witness in the case, as corruption charges can be processed without plaintiffs. The Military Police investigators, he said, should be more active in handling the case.

The Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) disclosed in early June that Rp 450 million (US$57,000) was transferred to Ghalib's accounts by tycoons The Nin King and Prayogo Pangestu.

It also alleged Rp 1.8 billion was transferred to accounts in the names of Ghalib and his wife, Andi Murniati, and that 11 deposits were made to their accounts between Feb. 12 and May 16 at a national private bank in South Jakarta. A total of Rp 13 billion was involved in the corruption and bribery charges.

Ghalib has denied taking bribes from the two businessmen, claiming that the Rp 450 million were contributions for the Indonesian Wrestling Association, which he chairs.(rms/swe)