TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Before the Center for Development of National Sports Achievements at Hambalang started, the Youth and Sports Ministry had difficulties trying to find a plot of land. They had sought land since 2003 but in vain. One day, a shaman visited the ministry. "We had been waiting since 2004," said Sports Ministry's Secretary Wafid Muharam--currently the convict in the Athlete Village project bribery case, as revealed by Tempo's June 4, 2012 edition. Head of the Sports Ministry's land-seeking team, Deddy Kusdinar, admitted it was extremely difficult to obtain Hambalang land documents. Deddy and his team surveyed five sites, among which were the locations in Karawang, Cibinong and Cikarang. Eventually the team recommended the site on the Hambalang Hill. In May 2004 it was decided that Hambalang was the site for the project development. Wafid Muharam, then head of general services bureau, did admit that money was given to the people who cultivated the land. Strangely enough, the project was started that very year. Later, the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) ordered the project stopped because there were no land documents for Hambalang yet. The Land Agency was reluctant to issue a decision because there was no statement of land submission from the former land users. PT Buana Estate belonging to Probosutedjo, step brother of former President Soeharto, used the land for plantations. Wafid wrote Probosutedjo three letters asking him to make a statement [to surrender the land]. Wafid even promised him a sport facility named "Probo Building." In 2009, Wafid asked Head of General Services Bureau Fadlilah Mursyid to meet with Probosutedjo. Wahid also recruited the assistance of Bogor DPRD Chairman Endang Kosasih to make arrangements to obtain Hambalang documents. "Even a shaman came to me. But nobody succeeded," said Wafid. Only in November 2009, did Probosutedjo issue a statement to the effect that he did not object that the Hambalang land was managed by the Sports Ministry.. PRAMONO | ISMA SAVITRI | RUSMAN PARAQBUEQ | FEBRIYAN