AGO to review Akbar verdict

MEDAN: The Attorney General's Office is considering filing a judicial review against the Supreme Court's verdict that acquitted Golkar chairman and House Speaker Akbar Tandjung of all corruption charges.

"The team that studies the case will soon decide whether or not to file a judicial review," Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes Iswahyudi told reporters in Medan, North Sumatra, on Friday.

Iswahyudi said the team, which consists of 13 prosecutors and legal experts, was examining the case.

Last month, the Supreme Court acquitted Akbar of all charges in graft case, overturning the lower courts' verdicts.

The Central Jakarta District Court sentenced Akbar to three years in jail for his role in a graft case involving Rp 40 billion (US$4.7 million) of the State Logistics Agency allocated for a rice-for-poor program.

The Supreme Court argued that Akbar was merely following the instruction of his then superior former president B.J. Habibie, even though the funds were never used to buy basic commodities. -- Antara