Court may move Bob Hasan to Salemba Penitentiary

Court may move Bob Hasan to Salemba Penitentiary

JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta District Court is
considering removal of timber tycoon Mohamad "Bob" Hasan, the
defendant in a multimillion-dollar graft case, from his detention
at the Attorney General's office to the Salemba penitentiary for
health reasons.

The proposal was raised by state prosecutors after Hasan
complained of a severe headache just before listening to the
testimony of the fourth witness in Monday's hearing.

"The defendant did not appear in the past three court
sessions, because of illness. Today, he can't hear the fourth
witness who came all the way from Bandung, West Java, to give
testimony," prosecutor Arnold Angkouw told the hearing.

Presiding judge Subardi adjourned the hearing until Thursday
and promised to take the request into consideration.

"Prosecutors have said that at the Salemba Penitentiary, the
defendant could get special medical treatment, something the
defendant is obviously not getting at the detention center of the
Attorney General's Office," Subardi said.

The delay means the fourth witness, B. Santoso, has to return
to Jakarta from Bandung at his own expense.

Arnold suggested that it was best for the defendant to be
transferred to the Salemba Penitentiary, where he could get
special medical treatment.

"I escorted the defendant to the Pertamina Hospital in South
Jakarta recently and got him examined by neurologist Suryo
Atmodjo, who concluded that the defendant was alright except for
his bent back, which could be related to his headaches and
vomiting.

"Otherwise in the coming hearings, he might not show up
again ... and this could adversely affect this trial."

Like Hasan, his golf buddy former president Soeharto escaped
trial for corruption by not attending any of the three court
sessions at the South Jakarta District Court due to illness.

The former president's defense lawyers have said their client
should never have to face court again due to his permanent ill
health resulting from three strokes he has suffered.

The Jakarta High Court overturned the ruling of the lower
court this month.

Prosecutors have charged defendant Hasan with defrauding the
state of US$ 75.62 million, and the Indonesian Forest
Concessionaires Association (APHI) of another $168 million
through a fraudulent aerial mapping project. (ylt)