Decision on tycoons not final: Attorney General

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)