Akbar's lawyers warn of pressure on judges

Kurniawan Hari and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Lawyers of convicted Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung on Friday criticized the increasing frequency and size of the protest rallies outside the Supreme Court (MA) building, saying that the demonstrations could sway the justices and affect their independence.

Amir Syamsuddin also said some media groups had "played up" the student demonstrations.

Dozens of students have staged rallies outside the Supreme Court building in recent days while the judges discussed Akbar's appeal case.

When the five-judge team examining the appeal failed to reach a decision on Thursday, dozens of protesters threw rotten tomatoes at the building.

Akbar has also said a number of times that the demonstration outside the Supreme Court building was an act of intervention into law enforcement.

Amir admitted that the public doubted the independence of the judges in the past, adding that the nation was now in the process of rebuilding the justice system. "We don't want to repeat our past mistakes," he avowed.

The press briefing was also attended by lawyers Denny Kailimang, Atmajaya Salim, and John H. Weleri.

Director of the Institute of Research and Advocacy for Judge's Independence (LeIP) Rifqi S. Assegaf said that the concern of Akbar's lawyers was to be expected.

Rifqi, however, said that in a country where corruption was rampant and corrupters rarely sent to jail, such protests were also to be expected.

"I don't think the demonstration outside the Supreme Court building should surprise anyone," he told The Jakarta Post.

Kailimang stated that the public ought to respect the legal process by keeping quiet.

Akbar was convicted by the Central Jakarta District Court for his involvement in a Rp 40 billion (US$4.7 million) corruption scandal and was sentenced to four years in jail.

That was later reduced to three years by the Jakarta High Court. Akbar remains at liberty since his conviction pending the final decision on his appeal.

The prolonged delay in deciding Akbar's case -- the appeal was filed in the middle of last year -- has sparked widespread speculation of backroom deals and political intrigue.

On Thursday, Judge Paulus Effendy Lotulung, who heads the team looking into Akbar's case, said that the judges decided to postpone the discussion of the case as they needed more time to review some more evidence, but declined to specify.

Chief Justice Bagir Manan, however, earlier stated that the task of the Supreme Court in appeal cases was only to review whether the lower courts had applied the law properly.