Golkar Party agrees with prosecution of Ginandjar

Golkar Party agrees with prosecution of Ginandjar

JAKARTA (JP): The Golkar Party has acknowledged the move by
the Attorney General's Office to probe party member Ginandjar
Kartasasmita over alleged corruption involving state oil and gas
company Pertamina.

"Let the legal process settle pak Ginandjar's problem and if
he is needed for further questioning I am sure he will comply
with the summons," Golkar Chairman Akbar Tandjung told
journalists on Friday.

However, Akbar underlined that everybody should respect the
legal process and exercise the principles of presumption of
innocence in the case.

"We still consider him as not guilty until the court rules on
the contrary. We will not hamper the process, and regarding his
position in the Assembly, we will have to wait until the case is
settled," he said.

Ginandjar, a former minister of mines and energy, is currently
the deputy speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

The Attorney General's Office on Thursday named Ginandjar and
his successor I.B. Sudjana as suspects in corruption cases which
allegedly resulted in US$24.8 million in state losses.

It was reported that Ginandjar illegally approved four
technical assistance contracts between Pertamina and private oil
company PT Ustraindo Petrogas in early 1992 and 1993.

The attorney general's office is slated to summon Ginandjar in
the near future. Ginandjar is currently participating in an
overseas lecture program.

Ginandjar had earlier denied the accusation and expressed
concern that he was the victim of a political conspiracy.

However, he said that he would obey the summons of the
attorney general's office.

Similarly, chairman of the Golkar faction at the House of
Representatives, Syamsul Muarif, said Ginandjar should undergo
the proper legal process, while suggesting that everybody should
respect the presumption of innocence.

He, however, reminded that there is a mechanism in the
Assembly regarding members who are absent for long periods of
time, which should be adhered to by all legislators.

"So if he (Ginandjar) is later replaced, it is not because he
has been declared a suspect in the (corruption) case. Rather, he
may feel that he should concentrate on the case. But we will
observe developments of the case first," Syamsul told The Jakarta
Post on Friday.

He underlined that there are no specific regulations requiring
a legislator to resign or be suspended because they are named a
suspect in a legal case and that it will be a personal decision
if he or she wants to step down from their position. (dja)