Akbar keeping wolves at bay<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The five-judge Supreme Court bench examining Golkar chairman
\nAkbar Tandjung's appeal failed to hand down a decision on
\nThursday, arguing that they needed more time to discuss the legal
\nissues involved.<\/p>\n
The five, led by Justice Paulus Effendy Lotulung, discussed
\nAkbar's appeal for two-and-a-half hours but failed to reach a
\nconsensus. They agreed to reconvene next Wednesday (Feb. 4).<\/p>\n
\"In cases involving complex legal issues, it is quite normal
\nto hold several meetings as there are many legal issues to be
\nconsidered,\" Paulus said.<\/p>\n
Dozens of protesters threw rotten tomatoes at the Supreme
\nCourt building in Central Jakarta after they learned that the
\njustices had failed to arrive at a decision.<\/p>\n
While the five justices were discussing his appeal, Akbar was
\nmeeting Golkar leaders at his office in the House. The party big-
\nwigs summoned included secretary-general Budi Harsono, co-
\nchairmen Slamet Effendi Yusuf, Agung Laksono, Mahadi Sinambela,
\nRambe Kamarulzaman and Bomer Pasaribu, and influential party
\nmembers such as Hajriyanto Y. Thohari, Rusdi Zen, Antony Abidin,
\nSoeharsojo and Baharuddin Aritonang.<\/p>\n
Akbar, who is also the speaker of the House of
\nRepresentatives, appealed to the Supreme Court against his three-
\nyear jail sentence for graft. A decision by the Supreme Court to
\nuphold Akbar's conviction would put an end to his presidential
\nambitions.<\/p>\n
Promising to incorporate any dissenting opinions in the
\nSupreme Court's final decision, Paulus said that the five
\njustices would have to decide the case by a vote if they failed
\nto reach an agreement. The new Supreme Court Law requires any
\ndissenting opinions to be attached to majority decisions of the
\ncourt.<\/p>\n
\"Our legal opinions will be issued after we announce our
\ndecision,\" Paulus said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Justice Abdul Rahman Saleh, a member of the
\njudicial panel hearing the Akbar appeal, said that the discussion
\nduring the meeting \"was difficult\", referring to the existence of
\ndifferent opinions among the justices. He declined, however, to
\nprovide details.<\/p>\n
However, Chief Justice Bagir Manan was upset when reporters
\nasked him about the one-week delay.<\/p>\n
\"Please allow us to examine the case independently. Don't push
\nus. Now, you're making me angry,\" he said to the dozens of
\nreporters surrounding him.<\/p>\n
Hendardi, the chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human
\nRights Institute (PBHI), said on Thursday that the public had
\nevery right to believe that backroom deals and political
\nchicanery were behind the delay.<\/p>\n
\"I do not believe they will be able to resist political
\nstring-pulling ahead of the general election,\" said Hendardi,
\nadding that the Supreme Court had come under intense pressure in
\nAkbar's case.<\/p>\n
Hendardi said the largest party in the current House, the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) would
\nlike to see Akbar acquitted.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar is the biggest party and the PDI Perjuangan would most
\nlikely be interested in going into coalition with it. If the
\nSupreme Court upholds Akbar's conviction, the PDI Perjuangan will
\nnot be able to predict its future course. This, of course, is not
\nin their interests,\" he explained.<\/p>\n
Akbar was originally sentenced to four years in jail by the
\nCentral Jakarta District Court, which was reduced to three years
\non appeal by the Jakarta High Court, for misusing Rp 40 billion
\n(US$4.8 million) in State Logistics Agency (Bulog) funds.<\/p>",
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