AGO objects to videoconferencing

AGO objects to videoconferencing

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The South Jakarta District Court's wish to be the first court in
the country to go hi-tech by hearing the testimony of former president
BJ Habibie through a videoconference is being challenged by
prosecutors, who claim that they do not have enough funds.

The Attorney General's Office has no funds to set up the
videoconferencing facilities to hear Habibie's testimony live in
the trial of former chief of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog)
Rahardi Ramelan, according to chief prosecutor Kemas Yahya
Rahman.

"I have told my supervisors about the court's plan, but we
cannot afford it," he told reporters after the hearing.

When reporters asked about the cost, however, Kemas replied,
"I have no idea."

He suggested the court allow prosecutors to read Habibie's
statement at the hearing. Habibie made the statements under oath
in the presence of the prosecutors earlier this year.

According to the Criminal Procedures Code, a court could
present a witness' statement if he or she was not able to attend
the hearing for an acceptable reason.

Habibie currently lives in Hamburg, and according to his
lawyers here, he could not visit the country as his ailing wife
needed his support.

On Tuesday, he skipped the summons for the fourth time.

The panel of judges insisted that Habibie's testimony should
be heard live "to reveal to the public the facts about the case
thoroughly."

Commercial videoconference operators contacted by The Jakarta
Post said that a videoconference hearing would cost several
thousand dollars.

However, presiding judge Lalu Mariyun, who is also the
district court chief, said that the University of Indonesia had
the equipment and had earlier offered to assist with the
videoconferencing.

Despite the suggestion, Prosecutor Kemas insisted that the
Attorney General's Office did not have enough money to organize
the videoconference. Rahardi is accused of manipulating Rp 62.9
billion (about US$7.27 million) of Bulog non-budgetary funds in
1999, when Habibie was still in power. A part of the money, Rp 40
billion, went to then state secretary/minister Akbar Tandjung,
who is currently facing charges over the same case.

Many believe that the money was used to finance the Golkar
Party in the 1999 election.

Akbar's former aide, Mahdar, and three former Bulog deputy
chiefs testified in Tuesday's hearing.