House allows lawyer's presence in hearing

House allows lawyer's presence in hearing

JAKARTA (JP): All factions at the House of Representatives
(DPR) agreed on Monday that witnesses to be questioned for the
State Logistics Agency (Bulog) and Brunei government aid scandals
could have their attorneys present.

In its plenary session, House deputy speaker A.M. Fatwa
said, however, that the lawyers did not have the right to speak
at the hearings.

Fatwa, who is also deputy chairman of the National Mandate
Party (PAN), said the hearings would be closed to the public.

The deal was reached by the factions after the session was
suspended for almost two hours to give faction leaders time to
conduct a lobby.

The ruling on the presence of attorneys has become crucial
after the lawyers for Siti Farikha, a witness, were prohibited
from accompanying their client during the hearing early this
month.

The upset lawyers and legislator Alex Litaay exchanged words
soon after Alex said the hearing had nothing to do with the
witness' human rights or legal protection.

Another witness, Teti Nursetiati, refused to testify at the
hearing without her lawyers present.

Deputy treasurer of the largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul
Ulama (NU) Masnuh has also refused to testify for similar
reasons.

The cases have drawn public attention because of the alleged
involvement of President Abdurrahman Wahid.

The Bulog case erupted in April following media reports on the
withdrawal of Rp 35 billion (US$3.7 million) from the Bulog's
foundation Yanatera by Suwondo, the alleged masseur of the
President.

Then Bulog chief Sapuan, who endorsed the withdrawal earlier,
claimed that it was the President who ordered Suwondo. The money
was reportedly used to fund social projects to help people in the
restive province of Aceh.

Teti Nursetiati is the wife of Suwondo, and Siti Farikah is a
friend of Suwondo's business partner, Aris Junaidi.

Abdurrahman has denied any involvement in the scandals, and
Suwondo has stated that he did not know the President.

The President once said $2 million from the Brunei's Sultan
Hasanal Bolkiah was a private donation and was received by
private organizations, including the Aswaja foundation chaired by
Afdhal Yasin, an executive of the Aceh chapter of National
Awakening Party (PKB). Abdurrahman was a founding father of PKB.

Chairman of the House special committee for the scandals
Bachtiar Chamsah said according to Article 23 of Law No. 6/1954
the witnesses' hearings should be closed to the public.

"A closed-door meeting, according to the House ruling, can
only be attended by House members or invitees," Bachtiar said.

After the House plenary session on Monday, a hearing with
Sapuan was held. Sapuan, who is being tried at the South Jakarta
District Court for the scandal, did not request his lawyers to be
present during the hearing. (jun)