Corruption probe quizzes key figures

Wiranto denied money went to East Timor militias

The former military chief of Indonesia, General Wiranto, and the country's parliamentary speaker, Akbar Tandjung, have been questioned by state prosecutors investigating a major corruption scandal.

Mr Tandjung, who is also leader of one of Indonesia's largest political parties, faced intense questioning by state prosecutors at the attorney-general's office for three hours.

Afterwards, both men spoke to journalists and denied any wrongdoing.

Journalists scuffled with Mr Tandjung's bodyguards before his questioning

Mr Tandjung denied allegations that he took $4m from the state food distribution agency, Bulog, to finance the election campaign of his Golkar party in 1999.

At that time Mr Tandjung was a minister under former President Habibie and Golkar was still the ruling party.

He said he had received the money, which he said had been withdrawn on the orders President Habibie, but had passed it to an Islamic charity, Raudatul Jannah, to buy food for the poor.

He also stressed none of the money had been diverted to his own party.

If found guilty of misusing state funds, he could lose his job as speaker of parliament and Golkar could be disbanded.

Wiranto denial

General Wiranto said he used about $1m of Bulog funds to help secure and finance the independence ballot in East Timor in 1999, but not to secure the victory of a particular side.

Not a cent was used to pay for the militias

General Wiranto

He denied the money was used to fund East Timorese militias which fought against the territory breaking away from Indonesian rule, leaving hundreds dead.

The pro-Jakarta militias, which were set up by the army, went on the rampage in September 1999 after East Timor voted for independence. General Wiranto, military chief at the time, has been partly blamed for the rioting which left hundreds dead and sent hundreds of thousands fleeing their homes.

So far there has been no statement by the attorney-general's office itself about the next stage of its investigation.