Akbar ready for probe over alleged scam

JAKARTA (JP): House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung said on Tuesday that he was ready to be questioned by the police in connection with a report about his alleged involvement in a land scam.

"I am ready to give my explanation if I am summoned by the police or any authorized officers," he told reporters at his office.

The National Ombudsman Commission earlier received reports by a man named Kurnia Ananda, who claims to be a close relative of Akbar's, about the alleged forgery of the deed to a 90,000-square-meter plot of land in Srengseng subdistrict, Kebon Jeruk district, West Jakarta.

Akbar, who is also chairman of the Golkar Party, acknowledged that Kurnia was a son of his late brother, Dato Usman Zaharuddin Tandjung.

However, Akbar declined to talk about the dispute, saying he had authorized a lawyer to handle the case.

"This is a family affair, and in this case it is between me and my nephew. Let him (the lawyer) give an explanation," he said as quoted by Antara.

The case adds to the problems Akbar is facing, following attacks on Golkar offices in several areas, including in Jakarta, and the demand for the dissolution of Golkar.

But Akbar said the issues did not affect his performance at the House.

On Monday, lawyer Andi Wahyudin Jalil, who represents Kurnia Ananda and his two brothers, Taufik Ananda and Indra Ananda, said that the alleged land scam had been reported to the police five years ago, but so far the case had not been settled.