House demands Nurdin's temporary released

House demands Nurdin's temporary released

Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A group of House of Representatives legislators from the Golkar
Party asked the police on Thursday to release Nurdin Halid, a
suspect in the smuggling of tons of sugar, to enable him to
celebrate Idul Fitri with his family.

In their letter, the 25 lawmakers, including Mujib Rahmat,
Mamat Rahayu, Herman Widyananda, M. Akil, Ade Komaruddin, Agusman
Effendi, Bambang Sadono and Ferry M. Baldan, said they would
provide a guarantee that Nurdin would not flee, destroy evidence
or skip out on police questioning sessions.

The letter, which was directed to National Police Chief Gen.
Da'i Bachtiar, said Nurdin's family was longing for his presence
at home during Idul Fitri, which falls on Sunday.

The House members also said Nurdin was the only breadwinner in
the family and that his children, who are all still young and
wife were in need of Nurdin's guidance.

They also asserted that Nurdin had been cooperative during the
police investigation.

Nurdin is a businessman and former Golkar lawmaker.

Nurdin, who chairs the Confederation of Primary Cooperatives
Association (Inkud), is one of several suspects in the smuggling
of 73,000 tons of sugar from Thailand into Indonesia last May.

He has been in detention since July 17, although he spent over
one month at the police hospital due to illness. His detention
period will expire on Nov. 26, but the investigators have said
they would extend the detention for another 30 days.

A request for a temporary release from custody is allowed
under Article 31 of the Criminal Law Procedures Code with certain
conditions.

However, the decision to approve the request lies solely with
the investigators.

Normally, such a request comes from the detainee's family or
close relatives.

The police are trying to complete Nurdin's case file, which
has been returned by the prosecutors at least two times due to
lack of documents.

Chairman of House Commission III overseeing law, human rights
and security, Teras Narang, said such a request was nothing
unusual as long as it met the conditions.

"Even if it's made by House members, in the end of course it
is up to those with the authority to make the decision," he said.

National Police Director for Economic Crimes Brig. Gen. Andi
Chaeruddin said assurances from the House members did not
automatically mean the investigators would grant the request.