President's Staff Claims Luthfi's Testimony as Political  

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Daniel Sparingga, Presidential Special Staff for Political Communication, asserted that the testimony of former President of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq, who accused President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of being close to Bunda Putri, did not carry any legal value. Daniel argued that Luthfi's testimony was filled with political intent.

"His aim is to tarnish [the President's] reputation," he said Sunday, October 13.

That was why, Daniel said, SBY held a press conference at the Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, East Jakarta, on Thursday last week. The President wanted to clarify that he did not know and was not even aware of Bunda Putri's presence.

Luthfi mentioned about Bunda Putri's involvement during a trial of the beef import graft case at the Jakarta Corruption Court last Thursday. Luthfi claimed that Bunda Putri was someone close to Yudhoyono.

In the trial of beef import quota corruption case at the Corruption Court Jakarta, last Thursday, Luthfi admitted to knowing Bunda Putri.

On the other hand, Luthfi's lawyer Mohamad Assegaf, denied that his client presented a political remark during the trial. He explained that his client was only answering the questions asked by the judges.

"Luthfi merely answered the judges' questions based on the information from Bunda Putri herself," he said when contacted.

Assegaf said Luthfi has no detailed information regarding the identity of the woman said to be the wife of a high ranking official at the Agricultural Ministry. Assegaf even stated that there is a possibility that Bunda Putri is nothing but a fabricated character

FRANSISCO ROSARIANS | BOBBY CHANDRA