House demands Nurdin's temporary released<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A group of House of Representatives legislators from the Golkar
\nParty asked the police on Thursday to release Nurdin Halid, a
\nsuspect in the smuggling of tons of sugar, to enable him to
\ncelebrate Idul Fitri with his family.<\/p>\n
In their letter, the 25 lawmakers, including Mujib Rahmat,
\nMamat Rahayu, Herman Widyananda, M. Akil, Ade Komaruddin, Agusman
\nEffendi, Bambang Sadono and Ferry M. Baldan, said they would
\nprovide a guarantee that Nurdin would not flee, destroy evidence
\nor skip out on police questioning sessions.<\/p>\n
The letter, which was directed to National Police Chief Gen.
\nDa'i Bachtiar, said Nurdin's family was longing for his presence
\nat home during Idul Fitri, which falls on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The House members also said Nurdin was the only breadwinner in
\nthe family and that his children, who are all still young and
\nwife were in need of Nurdin's guidance.<\/p>\n
They also asserted that Nurdin had been cooperative during the
\npolice investigation.<\/p>\n
Nurdin is a businessman and former Golkar lawmaker.<\/p>\n
Nurdin, who chairs the Confederation of Primary Cooperatives
\nAssociation (Inkud), is one of several suspects in the smuggling
\nof 73,000 tons of sugar from Thailand into Indonesia last May.<\/p>\n
He has been in detention since July 17, although he spent over
\none month at the police hospital due to illness. His detention
\nperiod will expire on Nov. 26, but the investigators have said
\nthey would extend the detention for another 30 days.<\/p>\n
A request for a temporary release from custody is allowed
\nunder Article 31 of the Criminal Law Procedures Code with certain
\nconditions.<\/p>\n
However, the decision to approve the request lies solely with
\nthe investigators.<\/p>\n
Normally, such a request comes from the detainee's family or
\nclose relatives.<\/p>\n
The police are trying to complete Nurdin's case file, which
\nhas been returned by the prosecutors at least two times due to
\nlack of documents.<\/p>\n
Chairman of House Commission III overseeing law, human rights
\nand security, Teras Narang, said such a request was nothing
\nunusual as long as it met the conditions.<\/p>\n
\"Even if it's made by House members, in the end of course it
\nis up to those with the authority to make the decision,\" he said.<\/p>\n
National Police Director for Economic Crimes Brig. Gen. Andi
\nChaeruddin said assurances from the House members did not
\nautomatically mean the investigators would grant the request.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-demands-nurdins-temporary-released-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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