Soeharto hearing to begin next week: Judge Lalu<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The head of the South Jakarta District Court
\nsaid on Monday the initial hearing of the Rp 4.97 trillion
\n(US$564.70 million) alleged corruption charges against president
\nSoeharto would begin next week.<\/p>\n
\"I made a promise that the trial would take place at the end
\nof August. Insya Allah (God willing) ... the promise I made will
\ncome true,\" Lalu Mariyun told reporters at the court.<\/p>\n
\"On Wednesday, I'll let all of you know the location and the
\ntrial date in a news conference.\"<\/p>\n
When asked about the locations the court would choose from,
\nLalu said they included the Jakarta Convention Center and the
\nAttorney General's Office. Both are in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
A district court source added that the Ministry of Agriculture
\nbuilding, also in South Jakarta, was also one of the options.<\/p>\n
\"Let's see how things go. In the meantime, journalists and
\nphotographers are encouraged to immediately sign up for special
\nidentification cards at the Jakarta High Court,\" Lalu said.<\/p>\n
\"Those who fail to get ID cards will be barred from attending
\nthe hearing sessions.\"<\/p>\n
Separately, one of Soeharto's lawyers, Juan Felix Tampubolon,
\ntold reporters that the former strongman was aware of the trial.<\/p>\n
\"He said that he was a man of the law, and would comply with
\nit,\" Juan told reporters at the district court.<\/p>\n
When asked if his client would attend the hearings, Juan
\ninsisted that confirmation could only be made after the date and
\nthe location of the trial was determined.<\/p>\n
\"Once we know the location and the date, my client will
\nundergo another physical checkup to see if he is fit to attend
\nthe hearings,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The panel of judges will consist of Mariyun, Soemarno, I Gde
\nPutra Yadnya, Mohammad Munawir and Sultan Mangun.<\/p>\n
Director of Prosecution at the Office of Deputy Attorney
\nGeneral for Special Crimes Mochtar Arifin said his office would
\ntry its best to present the ailing former president in court.<\/p>\n
Attorney General's Office spokesman Yushar Yahya said the
\njudges usually granted a defendant an excuse to skip a trial
\nsession over health problems.<\/p>\n
\"But the excuse would be valid for one session only,\" Yahya
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"The judges are also entitled to check the defendant's medical
\ncondition by themselves, with the help of an appointed medical
\nteam,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Juan said the team of Soeharto's defense lawyers had prepared
\na number of witnesses, including former state officials during
\nthe Soeharto administration and several executives of the
\ncharitable foundations which Soeharto had chaired. (ylt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soeharto-hearing-to-begin-next-week-judge-lalu-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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