Judge denies pressure in Megawati's lawsuit
Judge denies pressure in Megawati's lawsuit
JAKARTA (JP): A judge trying one of the dozens of Megawati
Soekarnoputri's lawsuits against the government denied yesterday
allegations of state pressure on the courts to rule in the
government's favor.
"I have not received a single directive from anyone about how
I should handle the case," said Lintong Oloan Siahaan, chief of
Jakarta's State Administrative Court.
"We will rule (over this case) independently in accordance
with our beliefs," Siahaan said after the preliminary hearing of
the latest lawsuit filed by Megawati in his court.
Siahaan presides over a panel of judges trying the case in
which ousted PDI chairwoman Megawati names President Soeharto,
Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono, Attorney General Singgih and
South Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Sisno Adiwinoto as
codefendants.
In the lawsuit, Megawati demands the court annul orders issued
by Moerdiono and Singgih to the police to investigate her and her
husband Taufiq Kiemas.
Megawati's lawyers say Megawati and Taufiq cannot be
investigated by police without written presidential approval
because they are members of the House of Representatives.
They said all the police had were letters issued by Moerdiono
and Singgih, none from the President.
Although the court is still trying the lawsuit, Megawati and
Taufiq have already complied with South Jakarta Police summonses.
Both are being questioned as witnesses in the police
investigation of Haryanto Taslam, a PDI leader, suspected of
organizing a political meeting at Megawati's residence in South
Jakarta in January.
In the lawsuit, Megawati called on the court to order the
police to stop all investigations pending the outcome of the
case.
On Tuesday, a group of the lawyers representing Megawati in
the lawsuits said they believed the courts were under pressure
from the government to dismiss the cases. The lawyers urged the
Supreme Court to respond to their allegations.
Yesterday's behind closed doors hearing was adjourned after
about 15 minutes because the defendants' lawyers did not appear
to have read the lawsuit, Siahaan said.
The hearing will continue next week. (05)