Zawawi to appear in court soon

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Prosecutor's Office is expected to submit to the North Jakarta District Court this week dossiers detailing the alleged involvement in corrupt practices of former head of the Jakarta Logistics Agency (Dolog Jaya) Ahmad Zawawi.

"We have completed the dossiers," assistant for intelligence at the prosecutor's office, Andi Syarifuddin, announced after attending the inauguration ceremony of Jakarta's Provincial Elections Committee on Saturday.

Separately on Monday, Andi, in his capacity as acting head of the prosecutor's North Jakarta office, said that Zawawi -- in preparation for his trial -- was taken into custody at Cipinang Penitentiary immediately after he made his routine report on his whereabouts to penitentiary officials on Monday.

"His immediate detention is important as he otherwise might escape with his city arrest status," Andi told The Jakarta Post, adding that the dossiers would be probably submitted to the court by Friday at the latest.

He, however, refused to disclose why his office had spent so much time in preparing a case against Zawawi, who last year was accused of taking part in the illegal issue of rice delivery orders and the unlawful export of 1,900 metric tons of rice to Sarawak in Malaysia.

The case made many angry as it was thought that the skyrocketing prices of rice in the capital at that time was mainly due to Zawawi's misdeeds.

Zawawi, a 57-year-old Army colonel, was named a main suspect in the case and was taken into police custody on Sept. 24. He was later released on bail at the request of his relatives.

Late October last year, the city prosecutor's office returned the dossiers to the city police due to a lack of eligible evidence, and asked the police to resubmit the case with clear charges.

During police questioning, Zawawi reportedly confessed to stealing more than half of Jakarta's daily rice supply and selling it to business partners.

The city's estimated daily rice requirement is approximately 5,000 metric tons, but the agency consistently distributes less than half the amount.

Zawawi was relieved from his post, after serving for five months, by Governor Sutiyoso who made the decision after consulting Minister of Industry and Trade/State Logistics Agency chairman Rahardi Ramelan to help speed up the police investigation. (ind)