Guess What? Lalu Mariyun

Guess What? Lalu Mariyun

Guess where Judge Lalu Mariyun was while prosecutors and
lawyers waited four hours for him to start a crucial hearing of
the trial on the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) scandal?

"Look, don't see things negatively. I had gone to see some
apartments promised to judges recently transferred here by the
Ministry of Justice and Human Rights. That's all," the 55-year-
old man, who has been head of the South Jakarta District Court
for five months and a sitting judge for the past 21 years, said
after the session at the South Jakarta District Court.

Tuesday's hearing, which was supposed to begin at 9 a.m.,
began at 1 p.m. instead.

"I am not hiding anything. The ministry promised all newly
transferred judges here an apartment," said the man, who is best
remembered as the presiding judge of the multimillion dollar
graft trial of former president Soeharto.

He added that some of the apartments were situated in the
Rasuna Said area of South Jakarta, while others were in the
Kelapa Gading area of North Jakarta.

"Don't ask me where I went again," Lalu said, before running
straight for his office.

He did not seem too bothered that an important witness who had
to testify at the session -- Aris Junaidi, brother of legislator
Arifin Junaidi -- left the court at 11:30 a.m. to keep a business
appointment. (ylt)