Akbar visits detained colleague

Akbar visits detained colleague

BANDA ACEH, Nangroe Aceh Darussalam: In a show of solidarity,
Golkar Party leader Akbar Tandjung visited Keduah penitentiary in
Banda Aceh to meet the leader of the party's chapter here
Muntasir Hamid.

Muntasir was arrested on Saturday for alleged corruption,
which Akbar had also been charged with. Akbar was acquitted by
the Supreme Court, but the Attorney General's Office is still
mulling a review of the case.

Akbar hugged Muntasir when they met on Tuesday. Several times
Muntasir told Akbar that he would vote for him in the
presidential election.

Besides Muntasir, Akbar visited eight detained local
government officials, who were also charged with corruption,
including the former regent of Banda Aceh.

Akbar said Golkar would provide lawyers from Jakarta to defend
Muntasir in court.

"We want the law to be upheld in the province. I believe in
the law," said Akbar, who was visiting Aceh to monitor the
party's preparations for its election campaign. -- JP