Defiant Akbar will travel to Vietnam

Despite a conviction of embezzling Rp 40 billion (US$4.5 million) of state funds, House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung is defiantly flying to Hanoi on Saturday.

Law enforcers have failed to impose a travel ban on the convicted thief, though other convicted criminals have such bans imposed.

Speaking to reporters after Friday prayers in the House's compound, Akbar said he would lead a delegation of Indonesian legislators to the International Parliament Union conference.

"It is impossible for me to cancel the trip because the conference will decide that we (Indonesia) are going to host the conference in 2003.

"Moreover, I haven't accepted the court's verdict and have filed an appeal ... why should I be banned by prosecutors?," said Akbar, also chairman of the Golkar Party.

The conference runs from Sept. 8 till Sept. 12.

Meanwhile, both the Attorney General's Office (AGO) and a member of the panel of judges that convicted Akbar refused to be held responsible for Akbar being allowed to travel.

"We leave the matter to the Court because they hold the authority to issue travel bans or even to send Akbar to jail," Attorney General's Office spokesman Barman Zahir told The Jakarta Post.

And judge Andi Samsan Nganro also refused to take responsibility, telling the Post: "It is the prosecutors who have the authority to ask the immigration office to issue the travel ban against Akbar." -- JP