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