Decision on tycoons not final: Attorney General

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid's order to delay the prosecution of three top businessmen on account of their huge contribution to exports was intended as a public discourse and not binding, Attorney General Marzuki Darusman said on Friday.

Marzuki told reporters that investigations into the three -- Texmaco Group chairman Marimutu Sinivasan, Barito Pacific Group chairman Prajogo Pangestu and the chairman of the Gadjah Tunggal Group, Syamsul Nursalim -- were continuing in spite of the presidential order to delay them.

"Even the attorney general has no power to intervene in the work of his own prosecutors," he said at his office.

Marzuki said he believed that Abdurrahman's statement was intended more as a "discourse" to look at the larger interest of the nation, such as on how to deal with the economic and financial problems, and not at halting any legal process.

"As president, it's all right for him to make statements of interest to the public, such as assuring them of the sustainability of Indonesia's exports and the job opportunities they create," he said.

Marzuki muffled speculation that the President, known by his nickname Gus Dur, was protecting a selected number of tycoons who were under criminal investigation.

"Don't overreact to his statements. This is Gus Dur's usual reaction to public opinions about how the government has been treating big businesses and nothing else," he said.

"But I will further look into Gus Dur's statement at the next Cabinet meeting," he quickly added.

Marzuki said government prosecutors would continue the investigation into allegations that the businessmen had violated the central bank's legal lending limit.

"We're still investigating Syamsul Nursalim and other prominent businessmen. We will announce the result of the investigation on Monday," he said without elaborating. (bby)