Activists rally at Tangerang court

TANGERANG: Some 200 members of the Community Forum for Justice (Permata Keadilan) staged a rally at the Tangerang District court on Monday, demanding a serious trial be conducted for Satmojo, former chief of the National Land Agency (BPN) Tangerang branch, who is facing charges in a Rp 1.4 billion (US$140,000) corruption case.

"The court must impose the maximum punishment on Satmojo and those involved in corruption practices in BPN's National Operation Project (Prona)," yelled the forum coordinator, M. Agus Muslim, during the rally.

"We call on judges to avoid money politics. We also demand the court to expose those involved in the project."

The group arrived at the court's compound at around 10 a.m. while carrying various posters condemning such practices.

Satmojo was arrested last August due to an alleged Rp 1.4 billion corruption scam involving Prona between March 1998 and March 1999.

Prosecutors charged him with violating Article 1 of Law No. 3/1971 on corruption. The Law carries a maximum punishment of life in prison. -- JP