Habibie may testify in early July

JAKARTA: Former president B.J. Habibie was expected to testify during the fraud trial of former State Logistics Agency (Bulog) chief Rahardi Ramelan via a live video hook up from Germany, South Jakarta District Court chief Lalu Mariyan said on Tuesday.

"God willing, we will conduct it (early July) if there are no obstacles," Judge Lalu, who is presiding over Rahardi's hearing, said.

The court is currently waiting for official approval from the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights as the Criminal Code Procedure does not stipulate it.

Supreme Court chief, Bagir Manan, supports the videoconference, saying it was "a breakthrough" for the country's judicial system.

Muladi, Habibie's legal adviser and also the former minister of justice under his rule, also supports the idea. He would depart for Hamburg, Germany, on June 28 to Habibie's residence, the Kompas daily newspaper reported.

Muladi said the videoconference would take place on July 2.

Habibie, who has ignored court summons three times, now lives in Hamburg, Germany where he is taking care of his ailing wife. He is the key witness against Rahardi, who is accused of misusing Rp 62.9 billion (US$7.2 million) of Bulog's Non-Budgetary Funds in 1999. -- JP