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.