Indonesia's logistics agency chief arrested for corruption

The Straits Times, March 22, 2007


JAKARTA - INDONESIA has arrested the head of the country's powerful state logistics agency (Bulog) as part of a corruption case over cattle imported from Australia, a prosecution spokesman said on Tuesday.

Bulog chief Widjanarko Puspoyo was named last week as a suspect in the case involving allegations of graft that stretch back to 2001.

'He has been arrested related to the cattle import case,' Mr Salman Maryadi, a spokesman for the Attorney-General's office, said by telephone.

Mr Maryadi said the authorities could hold the Bulog chief for 20 days in order to file charges, and this could be extended.

Asked for comment by reporters before being taken to Cipanang Prison in east Jakarta, Puspoyo said: 'Thank god, I am ready now.'

Mr Hendarman Supandji, Indonesia's top anti-graft prosecutor, said the arrest was also a precaution against potential evidence tampering.

'The arrest is to help make the investigation process go smoothly because we need to question him two or three more times,' he said.

The prosecutor previously put losses to the state caused by the alleged graft at around 11 billion rupiah (S$1.8 million).

Bulog distributes and manages stocks of key commodities such as rice and sugar in the country.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono won Indonesia's first direct presidential vote in October 2004 on a pledge to end corruption.

Since Dr Yudhoyono's high-profile anti-graft campaign started, officials ranging from a former religious affairs minister to the governor of Aceh province have been jailed on corruption charges.

REUTERS