Attorney General launches probe into key politicians

Attorney General launches probe into key politicians

JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Baharuddin Lopa brushed off
criticism on Thursday of his plans to launch a corruption probe
into several leading politicians, contending that his actions
were well within the confines of the law.

"Don't get in our way. We'll continue with the plan because it
has a legal base," Lopa told reporters.

Stressing that he was unperturbed by any intimidation, Lopa
then quoted a verse from the Koran which directs everyone to
"uphold law and justice in the name of God, even when it involves
your own parents, family and friends."

In his capacity as President, Abdurrahman Wahid has given the
green light for the Attorney General's Office to probe House of
Representatives Speaker and Golkar Party chief Akbar Tandjung
along with Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) legislator Arifin Panigoro.

Arifin charged on Wednesday that the move was really an
attempt by the embattled President to crack down on his political
foes as the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly
drew near.

Lopa brushed aside these accusations on Thursday, asserting
that the investigation would be halted if prosecutors did not
find evidence that linked the two to corrupt practices.

"Special session or not, I will go on," Lopa insisted.

Lopa further revealed that he would continue legal proceedings
against business tycoon Prajogo Pangestu, who along with
businessmen Sinivasan Marimutu and Gajah Tunggal Group owner
Sjamsul Nursalim had had previous investigations against them
personally suspended by the President.

"No matter who I deal with, friends or not, I will combat
corruption to its roots," he added.

Sinivasan had been named a suspect for allegedly marking up
state loans given to his company Texmaco, but then Attorney
General Marzuki Darusman halted the investigation due to lack of
evidence.

"The suspension of the investigation was before my time. But I
have ordered my men to review the case," Lopa said.

Reactions

Separately, legislators displayed mixed reactions to the
Attorney General's move.

Agun Gunandjar, a legislator of the Golkar Party, slammed the
planned investigation, describing it as Abdurrahman's "revenge"
on his political foes.

"The Attorney General's plan to investigate Akbar Tandjung,
Arifin Panigoro and Nurdin Halid, all three legislators, is
related to the House's decision to call for a special session and
the tension between the President and the House," he said.

He said Golkar would fight the move and remain politically
steadfast in demanding the President's accountability in the
special session.

Syamsul Muarif, chairman of the Golkar faction, asserted that
his faction was committed to upholding the supremacy of law and
the investigation of corrupt and collusive practices, but the
government should not abuse the law for political purposes.

"Golkar has no objection to the investigation into corruption
allegations against the three legislators if it is conducted in
accordance with the law and if the Attorney General has evidence
of their involvement in corruption," he said.

Akbar himself also pledged resistance if the probe was
politically tainted.

"We will not keep silent ... This will not be able to halt the
imminent special session," he said after receiving Hayono Isman,
chairman of the Multipurpose Cooperative of Mutual Assistance
(Kosgoro) at his office.

Meanwhile, Aberson Marle Sihaloho, an outspoken legislator of
PDI Perjuangan, hailed the planned investigation, maintaining
that it had nothing to do with the special session.

"Despite the special session, the investigation into
corruption must go on," he said.

Aberson called on Akbar and Arifin to aid the investigation to
provide an example for others as well as to prove their
innocence.

"Frankly speaking, I'm suspicious of the three as they have
reacted strongly while in fact the investigation itself hasn't
begun yet," he said.

Haryanto Taslam, another legislator of PDI Perjuangan, said
his party would have no objection to the investigation.

"PDI Perjuangan is committed to the supremacy of law and it
will fully support imposing stern sanctions against corruptors,"
he said.

Meanwhile in Yogyakarta, Assembly speaker Amien Rais said that
the investigation was politicized, as the law was being exploited
by the President to attack his political opponents.

Amien remarked that it would be better for Lopa to investigate
"bigger corruption cases" rather than investigating the
legislators.

He further stressed that whatever the outcome of the
investigation it would have no bearing on the special session.

"It's like trying to catch smoke," he said of the lame
attempts to block the special session.(44/rms/bby)