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.