Court decides to continue Puteh's corruption trial

Court decides to continue Puteh's corruption trial

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A court here ruled on Monday that the corruption trial of
suspended Aceh governor Abdullah Puteh would proceed, dismissing
his appeal for temporary release to visit his homeland, which was
devastated by the recent tsunami.

A panel of three judges at the Anticorruption Court rejected
the arguments presented by Puteh's team of lawyers that the
indictment against their client was vague and incomplete.

The lawyers had earlier demanded that the court drop the case,
arguing that prosecutors appointed by the Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK) were not authorized to lay down charges against
Puteh.

"But according to our consideration, the indictment prepared
by the prosecutors is complete and clear," presiding judge Kresna
Menon said.

Monday was the fourth hearing for Puteh, who was charged with
marking up the price of a Russian chopper he bought for his
administration, causing state losses of at least Rp 10 billion
(US$1.1 million).

He was arrested last month and could face life imprisonment if
found guilty. Days after his trial opened on Dec. 26, the
governor was suspended from his duties by President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono.

Puteh lost two sisters in the earthquake and tidal waves that
crushed most parts of Aceh on Dec. 26, but Menon said the
suspended governor would remain in jail until his graft trial was
over.

"The presence of the defendant in the trial is required so
that it proceeds smoothly," Menon was quoted by AFP as saying.

Puteh demanded that the court suspend his detention, so he
could visit the ravaged province to assist massive relief work
there and to console several of his relatives affected by the
disaster.

Upon hearing the ruling, Puteh could not hide his
disappointment. "I'm sad because I can't help my relatives in
Aceh. However, I will comply with the decision," he said.

However, one of Puteh's lawyers, OC Kaligis, said he would
appeal to a higher court against the ruling.

Meanwhile, prosecutor Haidir Ramli acknowledged that he had
asked the panel of judges to delay the trial for two weeks
because his office was not sure about the whereabouts of Acehnese
witnesses after the catastrophe that killed more than 104,000
people in Aceh and North Sumatra.

The judges adjourned the trial until Jan. 17 to hear
witnesses' testimonies.