Justices appointed on Akbar's case

Justices appointed on Akbar's case

JAKARTA: The Supreme Court has selected a panel of justices to
hear the appeal of House of Representatives Speaker Akbar
Tandjung, who has been sentenced to three years prison for
corruption.

An official with the Supreme Court confirmed on Thursday the
establishment of the panel of five justices. The five are Paulus
Effendy Lotulung, Mohamad Laica Marzuki, Muchsin, Arbijoto and
Parman Suparman.

Paulus, also head of state administrative affairs, was
appointed to lead the panel.

The Jakarta High Court upheld in January the Central Jakarta
District Court's jail sentence imposed on Akbar for the
misappropriation of Rp 40 billion (US$4 million) of the National
Logistics Agency (Bulog) funds.

The verdict prompted House legislators to pressure Akbar to
resign on moral and ethical grounds but Akbar stood his ground.
The conviction also threatens Akbar's position as the chairman of
the Golkar Party and his bid for the presidency in 2004. -- JP