Graft suspect Akbar meets President
Graft suspect Akbar meets President
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Corruption suspect Akbar Tandjung met with President Megawati
Soekarnoputri on Thursday for the first time after the
beleaguered Golkar chairman was detained by the Attorney
General's Office in March.
The meeting, which took place after the swearing-in ceremony
of Vice Admiral Bernard Kent Sondakh as the new Navy Chief of
Staff and Vice Marshall Chappy Hakim as Air Force Chief of Staff
at the State Palace, lasted for around 20 minutes.
Akbar, who came to the palace to attend the inauguration
ceremony, left his designated place hurriedly to congratulate the
new officers and tried to catch up with Megawati, who was leaving
the ceremony venue.
Megawati suddenly stopped and came over to the House Speaker.
They soon engaged in a friendly talk. While Megawati was talking
to Akbar, her husband Taufik Kiemas repeatedly patted Akbar on
the shoulder.
Akbar even entered into the President's office for about 20-
minutes. None of the presidential aides joined Megawati in the
meeting. Akbar left the palace without giving any details of his
discussion with Megawati.
Akbar later told The Jakarta Post that he congratulated
Megawati for her successful official visits to China, South
Korea, North Korea and India.
"I also asked her about the candidates for the Indonesian
Military (TNI) chief. She said she will announce (TNI chief)
soon," said Akbar.
He rejected speculations that he tried to discuss his case
with Megawati.
"No, not at all. We didn't discuss that subject," Akbar said.
Immediately after Akbar was detained by the Attorney General's
Office on March 7, Golkar heavyweights tried to lobby Megawati
but the President reportedly deliberately shunned any meeting
with Golkar leaders. At one point, Golkar leaders complained that
Megawati did not want to meet them and threatened to withdraw the
party's support for her administration.
Akbar is on trial for alleged corruption involving Rp 40
billion (US$4.2 million) in State Logistics Agency (Bulog) funds.
He could face 20 years imprisonment if convicted.