Suspect Akbar back to House, claims he is still in control<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Corruption suspect House Speaker Akbar Tandjung reported back to
\nwork on Wednesday, declaring that he was still the speaker of the
\nHouse of Representatives (DPR).<\/p>\n
Akbar, who is standing trial at the Central Jakarta District
\nCourt for allegedly misusing Rp 40 billion (US$4.1 million) of
\nState Logistics Agency (Bulog) funds in 1999, arrived at the
\nHouse at around 10 a.m., accompanied by his driver only.<\/p>\n
He appeared rather depressed.<\/p>\n
A dozen Golkar legislators, including Golkar faction chairman
\nMarzuki Achmad, secretary Daryatmo Mardianto, Hafiz Zawawi and
\nEvita Asmalda, welcomed Akbar at the main door of the House
\nbuilding.<\/p>\n
However, none of the four deputy speakers welcomed Akbar's
\nreturn to the House.<\/p>\n
\"I have decided to come even though the House is currently in
\nrecess ... as the House speaker, I am allowed to come at any
\ntime,\" Akbar told the media upon his arrival.<\/p>\n
His arrival at the House challenged mounting public demands
\nthat Akbar, 56, had to resign from his post as speaker of the
\nHouse, one of the country's highest institutions, on the grounds
\nthat he had lost his moral authority to lead it.<\/p>\n
His visit to the House on Wednesday was his fist since he was
\nfreed from detention on Friday.<\/p>\n
Akbar assured that his activities at the House would not
\ndisrupt the current trial process at the Central Jakarta District
\nCourt.<\/p>\n
\"I meet regularly with my lawyers to discuss the trial and my
\npresence here doesn't mean that I'm ignoring the trial,\" said
\nAkbar, adding that if legislative programs conflicted with court
\ntrial schedules, he would choose to attend the court hearing.<\/p>\n
Akbar was apparently referring to statements by deputy House
\nspeaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno of the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and Ali Masykur Musa of the
\nNational Awakening Party (PKB) that he should focus on the trial.<\/p>\n
Legislators also planned to form a committee of inquiry into
\nthe scandal, but deferred the decision, pending a court verdict.<\/p>\n
Akbar said he was allowed to go anywhere as long as the
\njourney did not disturb the trial process.<\/p>\n
\"I am free. I can go to the regions or travel out of town as
\nlong as the journey doesn't affect the trial,\" Akbar said.<\/p>\n
Several Golkar legislators were seen visiting Abkar at his
\noffice. They included Ade Komaruddin, Baharuddin Aritonang, Bomer
\nPasaribu, Darul Siska and Datuk Labuan.<\/p>\n
A legislator from President Megawati Soekarnoputri's
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Aberson
\nMarle Sihaloho also visited the beleaguered Golkar chairman.<\/p>\n
Akbar, the highest official taken to court for corruption, was
\nreleased from detention last Friday on the personal guarantee of
\nhis wife, Krisnina Maharani.<\/p>\n
His release sparked speculation that Golkar had reached a
\ncovert political deal with the ruling PDI Perjuangan, as Akbar's
\ncodefendants, Dadang Sukandar and Winfried Simatupang, have been
\ndenied such a privilege. Another corruption suspect, Rahardi
\nRamelan, had his detention extended by 60 days by the South
\nJakarta District Court.<\/p>\n
Akbar refuted the speculation on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"We know that the legal process cannot be affected by any
\nopinion from outside. Let's trust the legal process,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Akbar said that a suspect should be considered innocent until
\nproven guilty by the court and, based on the principle of the
\npresumption of innocence, a suspect should be allowed to perform
\nhis duties until he was declared guilty.<\/p>",
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