Soeharto's trial begins next Thursday: Judge<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The initial hearing of former president
\nSoeharto's alleged corruption case will convene on Thursday next
\nweek at the Ministry of Agriculture in South Jakarta, head of the
\ndistrict court Lalu Mariyun announced on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
According to local police precinct chief, Sr. Supt. Edward
\nAritonang, who accompanied judge Lalu in the meeting, some 500
\ntroops (not 250 as reported earlier) would be deployed to secure
\nthe hearing.<\/p>\n
"We will have more troops ready at City Police and the
\nNational Police Headquarters, should anything happen," Edward
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in the ministry's 400-seat
\nauditorium, of which 200 seats will be reserved for the press and
\nthe remainder open to the public.<\/p>\n
At Wednesday's conference at Lalu's office, Aritonang and Lalu
\nwere accompanied by district court deputy chief Soemarno, the
\ncourt spokesman Soedarto, South Jakarta Prosecutor's Office chief
\nBarman Zahir, and district court clerks chief Ramadhan Rizal.<\/p>\n
"Security of the witnesses, judges, lawyers, court clerks, the
\ndefendant and the audience is in our hands. We've done our utmost
\nand can only hope that nothing goes wrong," Aritonang said,
\nadding that the City Military command have troops on standby for
\nbackup.<\/p>\n
"The entrance gates to the ministry will be tightly secured.
\nThere will be officers securing the evidence -- important
\ndocuments and other equipment -- to ensure its security,"
\nAritonang said.<\/p>\n
Aritonang added that reporters and photographers were obliged
\nto wear two identification cards.<\/p>\n
"Get the first ID card from the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office,
\nand show it to Judge Soedarto of the South Jakarta District
\nCourt, to get the second ID card. Only one card will not get you
\ninto the ministry," Aritonang said.<\/p>\n
According to Lalu, the district court had ordered prosecutors
\nto ensure that defendant Soeharto attended the first and
\nsubsequent hearings.<\/p>\n
Lalu said that by law, a defendant can only miss one court
\nappearance without sanction.<\/p>\n
"If he should not turn up for more than one hearing, we will
\ntake actions as stipulated in Criminal Code Procedures," Lalu
\nsaid, adding that he had yet to hear from the defendant's lawyers
\non Soeharto's present health.<\/p>\n
Soeharto has been charged by prosecutors with misusing some Rp
\n1.4 trillion and US$416 million donated to his seven tax-free
\ncharitable foundations.<\/p>\n
He is charged with violating Article 1(a) of Law No. 3\/1971 on
\nCorruption by deliberately enriching himself at the state's
\nexpense.<\/p>\n
Soeharto is also subject to subsidiary charges as provided for
\nby Article 1(b) of the corruption statute, under which a
\ndefendant may be convicted for abuse of power so as to cause
\nlosses to the state.<\/p>\n
Both articles carry a maximum life sentence and a minimum of
\n20-years imprisonment, plus a maximum fine of Rp 30 million.<\/p>\n
Attorney General Marzuki Darusman announced earlier this month
\nthat Soeharto was fit to stand trial.<\/p>\n
Soeharto's lawyers have repeatedly claimed that their client
\nis too ill to face trial because he cannot remember past events
\nand is suffering from brain damage. Earlier this month, the 79-
\nyear-old suspect was admitted to a hospital for brief medical
\ntreatment.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman Wahid has repeatedly stated he would
\npardon Soeharto if he was found guilty. But the President has
\ninsisted that any such pardon must be preceded by a trial. (ylt)<\/p>",
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