Attorney General will not let Ginandjar go<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Attorney General's Office refused on
\nWednesday to release former minister of mines and energy
\nGinandjar Kartasasmita, saying that the court ruling on the
\nsuspect's investigation and detention did not order his release.<\/p>\n
The Office's spokesman, Muljohardjo, said although the South
\nJakarta District Court had determined that all legal measures
\ntaken against Ginandjar prior to April 9 were unlawful, it said
\nnothing about the suspect's arrest status.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot interpret the judges' decision. We can only comply
\nwith what was written in the decision. We cannot release
\nGinandjar just because other people think that way.<\/p>\n
\"By law, when a court states whether an investigation and
\ndetention is unlawful, it should also decide whether the suspect
\nshould be released,\" Muljohardjo told journalists.<\/p>\n
On Monday, the court ruled that the investigation and
\ndetention carried out by the Attorney General's Office before
\nApril 9 were unlawful because a joint investigation team
\nincluding military prosecutors and military police had not been
\nestablished to investigate the suspect, who is a retired military
\nofficer.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday afternoon, eight of the joint investigating
\nteam's nine members visited Ginandjar in his cell.<\/p>\n
From outside, journalists could clearly hear Ginandjar and his
\nlawyer, Muchyar Yara, arguing with the team over his demand for
\nrelease.<\/p>\n
\"I've been here for 13 days now, although it's never been
\nclear what I have done wrong,\" Ginandjar said.<\/p>\n
The team, however, refused to release him.<\/p>\n
After leaving the cell, the team's leader, Barman Zahir, told
\nreporters they visited Ginandjar to introduce themselves and see
\nhow he was doing.<\/p>\n
He said that the team did not feel that it was necessary to
\nissue a new warrant to arrest and detain Ginandjar.<\/p>\n
\"Our arrest and investigation after April 9 is lawful. We have
\nthe right to detain him,\" Barman said.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar has been accused of abuse of power while serving as
\nthe minister of mines and energy in the early to mid-1990s. His
\nalleged involvement in several government contracts between 1992
\nand 1995 caused some US$24.8 million in losses to the state.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar, a Golkar Party legislator and current deputy
\nspeaker of the People's Consultative Assembly, was an active Air
\nForce vice marshall during the time in question, retiring in
\n1996.<\/p>\n
The Attorney General's Office issued a detention warrant on
\nMarch 31, however execution of the warrant was thwarted by
\nGinandjar's hospitalization. His 20-day detention period
\ncommenced on April 6 after being treated at the state-run
\nPertamina Hospital in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Following his confinement, Ginandjar's lawyers filed a
\ncomplaint with the court.<\/p>\n
Due to the prosecutors' refusal to free Ginandjar following
\nthe court ruling, several people, including Muchyar Yara, have
\ninsisted on staying in the cell. Although the authorities have
\nmanaged to remove several people, as of Wednesday evening a small
\ngroup still remained with Ginandjar.<\/p>\n
A dozen representatives from the youth organization Laskar
\nMerah Putih, including its chairman Edi Hartawan, were also seen
\noutside the detention cell waiting for Ginandjar's release. (bby)<\/p>",
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