Akbar accused of perjury

JAKARTA: A group of non-governmental organizations accused on Thursday Golkar Party leader Akbar Tandjung of perjury during his trial as a defendant in the Rp 40 billion State Logistics Agency scandal in 2002.

The NGOs, including Petition 50, The Alert on the New Order Committee and the Marhaen People's Movement, said Akbar had told the court that then-agency chief Rahardi Ramelan was present at a cabinet meeting on Feb. 10, 1999 that mandated Akbar to run a food for the poor program. However, evidence showed Rahardi was in Washington at the time, they said.

The NGOs questioned why the Supreme Court justices did not take the conflicting statements into account. The justices acquitted Akbar from all charges in a split decision.

Besides Akbar, the NGOs accused dismissed Golkar official Anton Lesiangi of hiding evidence. Following his dismissal by Akbar, Anton said Akbar had distributed sums of money to his aides. -- JP