A defendant in a graft case involving the procurement of fire engines, claimed here on Monday he had enough evidence to prove former home minister Hari Sabarno had masterminded the deals, which had caused up to Rp 86 billion (US$9 million) in state losses.
The former Home Ministry director general and Hari’s direct subordinate, Oentarto Sindung Mawardi, told judges he would bring all necessary evidence to an upcoming hearing.
Previously prosecutors had demanded a five-year prison term for Oentarto for his alleged role in the case.
“Why is it that only I have been tried while Hari Sabarno remains a free man? He should be the one held responsible for this,” Oentarto said.
Among the evidence, Oentarto said, was a statement from Hari’s former secretary that said it was Hari who had endorsed the procurement project in the first place.
There were also testimonies from dozens of mayors and governors who said Hari had introduced them to Hengky Samuel Daud, the sole supplier of the fire engines, Oentarto said.
Hengky, a businessman who owned PT Istana Sarana Raya, was the main defendant in the case.
Hengky was arrested in June after a three-year investigation, and was accused of having caused Rp 10.94 billion in state losses, through a tax-free privilege to import eight fire engines.
Oentarto said Hari, through his secretary Suroso, had ordered him to issue circulars to governors and mayors requiring them to purchase fire engines supplied by Hengky.
When testifying at the previous hearing, Hari said he had never given this order.
Oentarto, however, said Hari had introduced him to Hengky.
“At first I even thought [Hengky] was a member of the ministry’s special staff. It was only a few months afterwards that I realized he was a fire engine supplier,” Oentarto said.
After their initial meeting, Hengky had allegedly met Oentarto several times and had asked him to issue a circular recommending a specific brand and model of fire engines that only his company could provide, Oentarto said.
In November 2002, Hengky had come to him with several copies of circulars issued by previous ministers to use as an example, he said.
“When I looked at the circulars he also handed me his own concept, and I said I’d study it,” Oentarto said.
In late November, Hengky had allegedly visited Oentarto again and reminded him about his request.
“He even pulled out a gun and put it on my desk with an identity card from the State Intelligence Agency [BIN],” Oentarto said.
Oentarto had not reported the incident or Hengky’s request to Hari because the minister had been busy, he said.
“So I told Hari’s secretary, Pak Suroso, that the person [Hari] had just introduced me to — Pak Hengky — had asked me to issue a circular”.
Not long after that, Suroso said he had told Hari about it.
In his testimony, Suroso confirmed Oentarto’s statement, saying when he informed Hari about Oentarto’s report, Hari only said “Just do as he wishes”.
“So that’s what I told Oentarto. I said to him that in principle the minister did not mind [about the request],” Suroso said.
