Court drop charges against Beddu

JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of supporters of the former chairman of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), Beddu Amang, who was charged for his alleged role in a Rp 95.4 billion (US$10.9 million) land scam, celebrated shortly after the South Jakarta District Court dropped the indictment against him on Monday.

"Long live justice, long live justice," the supporters shouted after hearing a provisional decision read out by presiding Judge Samsoeddin A.B.

In different courtrooms on Monday, the trials of two other defendants in the corruption case -- businessmen Ricardo Gelael and Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra -- continued.

The judges ordered the trial against Ricardo to proceed, while a decision on the trial of Tommy, the youngest son of former president Soeharto, will be announced next week.

In the trial against Beddu, Judge Samsoeddin said the prosecutors' indictment against Beddu was inaccurate, unclear and incomplete.

"The indictment (read by prosecutor Soehardjono two weeks ago) did not mention details of the defendant's job or his authority as Bulog's chief.

"It also did not mention that Beddu was still a member of the People's Consultative Assembly," the judge said.

He argued the indictment only explained a land exchange deal between the defendant, Tommy and Ricardo without elaborating on which laws had been violated by Beddu.

He said the court believed the indictment was not arranged properly according to Article 143 (2) of the Criminal Code Procedure on the requirements of an indictment, and should therefore be annulled.

In response to the judge's intermediate decision, the prosecutor in the case, Soehardjono, said he would appeal the decision to the Jakarta High Court, insisting he had made the indictment clear, accurate and complete.

"We will appeal to the high court. If the appeal is rejected, we will enter a new indictment against the defendant," he said.

According to Soehardjono, it was not necessary for the indictment to mention details on Beddu's job because such information would be examined in later court sessions.

In last week's trial, the prosecutor told the court that Beddu did not indicate to the court that he was a member of the People's Consultative Assembly.

In today's court session, aired live by private television station ANteve, the 62-year-old Beddu appeared happy after hearing the decision.

"I think the judge made a brave and independent decision in a widely publicized case," Beddu's lawyer, Amir Syamsuddin, said.

Beddu, Tommy and Ricardo are accused of involvement in a land scam which caused the state Rp 95.4 billion in losses.

The three defendants were charged under Article 1 (a) of Corruption Law No. 3/1971 which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment or 20 years in jail and/or a Rp 30 million fine.

Beddu signed an agreement with Tommy in February 1995 for the exchange of Bulog's 50-hectare warehouse complex in Kelapa Gading for 125-hectares of land in Marunda, both in North Jakarta.

The agreement was canceled by Bulog's new chief, Rahardi Ramelan, in March last year.

In a separate courtroom on Monday, presiding Judge Jalius Amin said in his provisional decision on the indictment of Ricardo that the panel of judges decided to continue examining his alleged role in the case.

Jalius said the indictment had been arranged clearly, accurately and completely.

"If there is a factor of a (possible) civil case, it should be examined further in later sessions," Jalius said.

Ricardo's lawyer, O.C. Kaligis, asked the court to present Rahardi Ramelan as a witness in the case.

"Since the prosecutor charged that the defendant caused losses to Bulog and the state, we ask the new Bulog chief to testify first," Kaligis said.

The judge adjourned the trial until next week, when testimony from witnesses will be heard.

Outside the court, Amin said Rahardi was not included on a list of witnesses in Ricardo's dossier.

"We will not summon Rahardi. He could be asked by Ricardo's lawyer to testify as a witness who might help lighten the charges against his client," he said.

In another courtroom, prosecutor Fachmi asked the court to continue examining the indictment against Tommy.

Presiding Judge R. Soenarto adjourned the trial until next week to read his provisional decision on the indictment.

As in last week's trial, Tommy, attired in a yellow batik shirt and black trousers, received a garland of jasmine flowers from a woman before he entered the courtroom.

Dozens of Tommy's supporters sang national songs and yelled: "Long live Tommy, long live Tommy."

Commenting on the indictment against Beddu being dropped, noted lawyer Luhut Pangaribuan said the judges handling the case could not produce independent or objective decisions.

"This case should be handled by people in the new government formed after the next general election. All the people involved in the trial are (Soeharto's) New Order people who cannot be expected to solve corruption cases," said Luhut, a former chairman of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute. (jun)