Golkar scheme may be behind plan to move Akbar's trial
Golkar scheme may be behind plan to move Akbar's trial
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A lawyer warned of a "systematic ploy" on the part of the Golkar
Party behind the plan to move the venue for the corruption trial
of House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung from the
Central Jakarta District Court to the Jakarta Fairground in
Kemayoran.
Johnson Panjaitan of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights
Association (PBHI) expressed concern that the shift of venue
would decrease public attention and enthusiasm to monitor Akbar's
trial as the new site was far from the heart of the city.
The police had earlier asked the Central Jakarta District
Court to move the trial to a more spacious location, fearing that
the massive number of onlookers would not be able to be
accommodated in the court building and would cause traffic
congestion.
The police also feared that a clash between Akbar's supporter
and opponents might occur amid mounting tension over Akbar's
trial.
Johnson, who attended the first session of Akbar's trial on
Monday, doubted the reasons given by police, saying that they
were exaggerating security concerns.
On Monday, there were 500 city police personnel deployed to
safeguard the trial.
Johnson contended that the move was a ploy to cool the
enthusiasm of the public. "It is a maneuver by Golkar to prevent
enthusiastic onlookers from attending the trial. Instead, Golkar
can bring its supporters to disrupt the proceedings,"
According to Johnson, only a well-organized mass-based
political group such as Golkar would have access to the deserted
Kemayoran fairgrounds.
Another legal expert Bambang Widjojanto, however, contended
that the plan, thus far, was still in accordance with fundamental
principles that should be abided by, including that the legal
proceedings must be rapid, low-cost and independent.
He agreed that the move might be able to ease tension and
evade possible havoc as public access to the trial and public
space to express their views were constrained by the small court
building.
"We must keep in mind that the trial venue is near a business
center. Any destruction will be more costly unless the venue is
transferred," Bambang told The Jakarta Post.
Bambang, however, warned that the independence of Akbar's
trial had to be given top priority. "The court must be kept
sterile from any intervention."
Central Jakarta District Court chief Subardi said the trial
venue would be transferred once the court receives a permit from
the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights.
"The state will bear all the costs," Subardi told the Post.
He added that the court had not decided whether or not to move
the trial of Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, who is on trial at the
same court.
Meanwhile, the management of the Kemayoran fairground
confirmed that Akbar's trial would be held at one of the three
spacious halls in the compound.
"Neither the date nor the place have been determined, but
certainly, it will be held in April," said Bambang, a marketing
staff member at the fairground.
Bambang said the trial might be held in hall B or C.
"The 36 meter by 54 meter Hall C is rented at Rp 11 million a
day, while hall B, which is more spacious, at Rp 28 million a
day."
Akbar is standing trial for allegedly misusing Rp 40 billion
in non-budgetary funds from the State Logistics Agency while he
was minister/state secretary. The case implicates big names
including former president B.J. Habibie and former Bulog head and
minister of industry and trade Rahardi Ramelan.