Akbar could be declared suspect if he lied: Lawyers<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto and Muhammad Nafik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung could be named a
\nsuspect in a Rp 54.6 billion (US$5 million) financial scandal if
\nit is proven he lied in his testimony on the high-profile scam,
\nlawyers said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
They also slammed the Attorney General's Office (AGO) for its
\nslow investigation of the case, saying it should recover its poor
\nimage by showing fairness and evading political interference in
\nthe inquiry.<\/p>\n
\"There are several odd things in the investigation, which
\nshould be questioned,\" prominent lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis told
\nThe Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He was referring to contradicting statements given by Akbar
\nand Achmad Ruskandar, a former deputy finance chief of the State
\nLogistics Agency (Bulog), who handed over two checks worth Rp 40
\nbillion to the State Secretariat.<\/p>\n
Ruskandar admitted on Tuesday that he gave the checks directly
\nto Akbar as state\/cabinet secretary in 1999 at the instruction of
\nhis superior Rahardi Ramelan.<\/p>\n
However, Akbar had earlier denied he personally received the
\nmoney from Ruskandar, who he said directly gave the checks to
\nleaders of the Islamic Raudlatul Jannah Foundation.<\/p>\n
\"For the sake of the House's credibility, Akbar Tandjung
\nshould voluntarily quit his post if he is proven to have given
\nfalse explanations,\" Todung said.<\/p>\n
The Rp 40 billion was part of a 54.6 billion fund disbursed by
\nBulog in several installments for humanitarian programs during
\nthe peak of the country's economic crisis in 1999. But many have
\nalleged the money was partly misused for the political interests
\nof Golkar Party, which is led by Akbar.<\/p>\n
Another lawyer, Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara, said the AGO
\nshould soon name new suspects in the scandal and questioned its
\ndecision to charge then Bulog chief Rahardi Ramelan with
\nembezzlement.<\/p>\n
\"Why has Rahardi become a suspect when he has already admitted
\nthat the fund's disbursement was instructed by his superiors,\"
\nGaruda said.<\/p>\n
He declined to say whether Akbar or then president B.J.
\nHabibie should be declared new suspects. Rahardi had said he was
\nordered in a Cabinet meeting by Habibie, currently living in
\nGermany, to disburse the funds for social safety net programs.<\/p>\n
Garuda said investigators should not only focus the probe on
\ncopies of incriminating receipts apparently signed by Golkar
\ntreasurers Fadel Muhammad and Muhammad S. Hidayat. \"There are
\nother pieces of evidence that the AGO should concentrate on in
\nthe inquiry,\" he added.<\/p>\n
More evidence could be unearthed by tracing the flow of the
\ndisbursed funds through the bank accounts, he said.<\/p>\n
Antonius Sujata, chairman of the National Ombudsmen
\nCommission, agreed with calls to charge Akbar if he is proved to
\nhave lied during the investigation. The House speaker could also
\nbe accused of being uncooperative with investigators, he added.<\/p>\n
\"The first thing the AGO should do is seek clarifications from
\nAkbar Tandjung on the conflicting information given by Ruskandar
\nand summon other people who had witnessed the handing over of the
\nchecks,\" Sujata said.<\/p>\n
Also joining calls for Akbar's resignation was chairman of the
\nIndonesian Society for Transparency Sudirman Said, who said the
\nHouse speaker should temporarily quit his job to give
\ninvestigators an opportunity to carry out their duties
\neffectively.<\/p>\n
\"Figures who are in positions of power should leave their
\nformal positions temporarily, so that legal officers have a
\nbetter opportunity to continue their investigation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sujata also criticized the sluggish investigation at the AGO,
\nsaying the slow process would allow any party to engineer a case.<\/p>\n
\"It is a high time for the AGO to show its professionalism,
\ncourage and independence. And the investigators should work fast
\nto prevent intervention by any party,\" he told the Post. \"It is
\nalso time for the AGO to show its seriousness in fighting
\ncorruption, collusion and nepotism. It should not miss this
\ntimely opportunity.\"<\/p>\n
Todung said the sluggish probe into the Bulog scandal
\nindicated \"compromises\" between the AGO and other relevant
\nparties.<\/p>\n
He said the scam, involving members of the nation's political
\nelite, was a test case for the AGO to repair its poor performance
\nin dealing with corruption. \"During the three or four months of
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri's rule, the AGO has not yet
\nshown much achievement in carrying out its duties.\"<\/p>\n
Todung also backed mounting demands for the House to launch a
\npolitical investigation into Akbar's case, saying the legislative
\nbody should not deal discriminatorily with any corruption case.<\/p>\n
\"If they (the House) have seriously investigated a corruption
\ncase implicating former president Abdurrahman Wahid, they should
\ndo the same in the Akbar case,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sudirman said the Akbar case was a test for Megawati's
\ngovernment to fight corruption and strengthen her political
\nposition.<\/p>\n
\"But if Megawati frees Akbar now,...it will be bad news for
\nthe nation's efforts to eradicate corruption,\" he added.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/akbar-could-be-declared-suspect-if-he-lied-lawyers-1447893297",
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