Golkar slams PDI Perjuangan, PKB for legal intervention

A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A senior Golkar Party official lashed out on Wednesday at several politicians who demanded the detention of party chairman Akbar Tandjung, a suspect in a high profile financial scandal involving the State Logistics Agency (Bulog).

Golkar deputy chairman Slamet Effendy Yusuf said the pressure mounted by the politicians could be considered intervening in the judicial process of the case, which is currently being investigated by the Attorney General's Office.

"There is no positive reason for the pressure, this will set a bad precedent for law enforcement in the country," Slamet told The Jakarta Post.

According to Slamet, the political pressure would just jeopardize and later undermine the independency of the Attorney General's Office in its investigation into the case.

Slamet was commenting on recent statements from Roy BB Janis, the deputy chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and Mahfud MD, the deputy chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB).

Both party leaders demanded that the Attorney General's Office detain Akbar, who is the House speaker, following the earlier detention of another suspect in the case, former Bulog chief Rahardi Ramelan, who is also a Golkar member.

Both Roy and Mahfud slammed the Attorney General's Office for practicing discrimination, which was reflected in its decision to detain Rahardi but failed to do the same thing to Akbar.

According to Slamet, who is close to Akbar, Rahardi deserved to be detained earlier than Akbar because Rahardi's investigation was further advanced.

"The investigations of Akbar and Rahardi are at different stages. For Rahardi, the office has already handed over his case files to the Jakarta Prosecutors' Office, while the office is still summoning Akbar to the case," he said.

Asked about the possible arrest of Akbar in the future, Slamet simply said, "it is up to the Attorney General's Office".

Meanwhile, executives at the National Awakening Party (PKB) visited Rahardi Ramelan on Wednesday at Cipinang Penitentiary.

They included Mahfud MD, Muhammad AS Hikam, the deputy chairman of PKB and chairman of PKB's House faction Ali Masykur Musa.

The visit was aimed to solicit moral support for Rahardi.