Attorney General vows to probe officials' conduct

Attorney General vows to probe officials' conduct

JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Singgih announced yesterday
that a team of investigators would probe the alleged role of
employees from the Jakarta Provincial Prosecutor's Office in
influencing witnesses' testimonies.

The employees -- including three prosecutors -- would not be
given special treatment and they would be dealt with according to
the existing rules, he said.

"If they are proven guilty, they must be prosecuted according
to the law," Singgih told reporters after opening a discussion
titled Functions and Roles of Lawyers in the Current Era of
Openness, Democracy and Human Rights.

But, he said, if the investigation later exonerated the men
and their arrest was deemed to be an orchestrated event, then his
office would pursue the perpetrators.

National Police detectives summoned at least seven people --
including four employees of Jakarta's Provincial Prosecutor's
Office -- two weeks ago following a report, dated Dec. 4, which
accused the officials of preparing false testimony for the trial
of suspects in the April 1994 killing of entertainment
businessman Nyo Beng Seng.

The report's author, Eng San, along with three other suspects,
was found guilty by North Jakarta District Court of masterminding
the killing of his rival. But Eng San was later acquitted by the
Jakarta High Court.

His recent report to police stated that another witness, Kikie
Ariyanto, who is still at large, was one of the key witnesses in
the case and identified him as the mastermind behind the murder.

The four employees of the prosecutor's office were identified
as: Andhi Nirwanto, now head of the sex-related crimes unit at
North Jakarta Prosecutor's Office; J. Kamaru, an assistant to the
Deputy Attorney General for intelligence affairs; and staff
members from the North Jakarta Prosecutor's Office -- Johny
Siahaan and Afrizal.

Police have released two of the officials but Kamaru and
Afrizal are expected to be charged under Article 242 of the
Criminal Code for encouraging another person to make false
statements in court. The violation carries a maximum penalty of
seven years in jail.

Kamaru and Afrizal were released on bail last week following
applications by relatives.

The police questioning and arrest of the suspects was
criticized by various parties, including Minister of Justice
Oetojo Oesman.

But the move was defended by National Police chief Gen. Dibyo
Widodo, who said everything was carried out in accordance with
the law.

Media reports suggested that incident was an act of revenge by
police, after prosecutors in Yogyakarta reportedly supported the
acquittal of a suspect in the murder of a journalist there.

When asked to comment on the issue, Singgih said there had
been no conflict between the two institutions, rather police were
the prosecutors' partners in criminal cases.

"It was the media that sparked the issue," he said.

Singgih said police and prosecutors would meet with the
Supreme Court in the next few days to discuss the matter.
(10/bsr)