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.