Golkar scheme may be behind plan to move Akbar's trial<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A lawyer warned of a \"systematic ploy\" on the part of the Golkar
\nParty behind the plan to move the venue for the corruption trial
\nof House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung from the
\nCentral Jakarta District Court to the Jakarta Fairground in
\nKemayoran.<\/p>\n
Johnson Panjaitan of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights
\nAssociation (PBHI) expressed concern that the shift of venue
\nwould decrease public attention and enthusiasm to monitor Akbar's
\ntrial as the new site was far from the heart of the city.<\/p>\n
The police had earlier asked the Central Jakarta District
\nCourt to move the trial to a more spacious location, fearing that
\nthe massive number of onlookers would not be able to be
\naccommodated in the court building and would cause traffic
\ncongestion.<\/p>\n
The police also feared that a clash between Akbar's supporter
\nand opponents might occur amid mounting tension over Akbar's
\ntrial.<\/p>\n
Johnson, who attended the first session of Akbar's trial on
\nMonday, doubted the reasons given by police, saying that they
\nwere exaggerating security concerns.<\/p>\n
On Monday, there were 500 city police personnel deployed to
\nsafeguard the trial.<\/p>\n
Johnson contended that the move was a ploy to cool the
\nenthusiasm of the public. \"It is a maneuver by Golkar to prevent
\nenthusiastic onlookers from attending the trial. Instead, Golkar
\ncan bring its supporters to disrupt the proceedings,\"<\/p>\n
According to Johnson, only a well-organized mass-based
\npolitical group such as Golkar would have access to the deserted
\nKemayoran fairgrounds.<\/p>\n
Another legal expert Bambang Widjojanto, however, contended
\nthat the plan, thus far, was still in accordance with fundamental
\nprinciples that should be abided by, including that the legal
\nproceedings must be rapid, low-cost and independent.<\/p>\n
He agreed that the move might be able to ease tension and
\nevade possible havoc as public access to the trial and public
\nspace to express their views were constrained by the small court
\nbuilding.<\/p>\n
\"We must keep in mind that the trial venue is near a business
\ncenter. Any destruction will be more costly unless the venue is
\ntransferred,\" Bambang told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Bambang, however, warned that the independence of Akbar's
\ntrial had to be given top priority. \"The court must be kept
\nsterile from any intervention.\"<\/p>\n
Central Jakarta District Court chief Subardi said the trial
\nvenue would be transferred once the court receives a permit from
\nthe Ministry of Justice and Human Rights.<\/p>\n
\"The state will bear all the costs,\" Subardi told the Post.<\/p>\n
He added that the court had not decided whether or not to move
\nthe trial of Hutomo \"Tommy\" Mandala Putra, who is on trial at the
\nsame court.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the management of the Kemayoran fairground
\nconfirmed that Akbar's trial would be held at one of the three
\nspacious halls in the compound.<\/p>\n
\"Neither the date nor the place have been determined, but
\ncertainly, it will be held in April,\" said Bambang, a marketing
\nstaff member at the fairground.<\/p>\n
Bambang said the trial might be held in hall B or C.<\/p>\n
\"The 36 meter by 54 meter Hall C is rented at Rp 11 million a
\nday, while hall B, which is more spacious, at Rp 28 million a
\nday.\"<\/p>\n
Akbar is standing trial for allegedly misusing Rp 40 billion
\nin non-budgetary funds from the State Logistics Agency while he
\nwas minister\/state secretary. The case implicates big names
\nincluding former president B.J. Habibie and former Bulog head and
\nminister of industry and trade Rahardi Ramelan.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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