Legislators allow Akbar to retain his position

A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Corruption suspect Akbar Tandjung will remain speaker of the House of Representatives until at least May, after House leaders on Thursday defied persistent public calls for his removal.

Deputies and faction members will perform Akbar's duties while he stands trial, DPR leaders decided.

Legislators will not discuss Akbar's future until the next sitting period, due in early May, House Deputy Speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno of President Megawati Soekarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said on Thursday.

"The decision (to delay decision on Akbar's status) was taken during a DPR leaders consultation meeting chaired by A.M. Fatwa," Sutardjo said after closing the January-March sitting period for the April recess.

Akbar, who is also chairman of Golkar party, the second biggest faction in the House, is on trial for allegedly misappropriating Rp 40 billion State Logistics Agency (Bulog) funds in 1999. His corruption case was heard for the first time last Monday at the Central Jakarta District Court.

State prosecutors have charged Akbar with power abuse resulting in state losses. If convicted, he could face 20 years' imprisonment.

Commentators and political opponents have claimed Akbar, as a criminal suspect and defendant in a corruption case, no longer had the moral authority to lead one of the country's highest institutions. Critics have also suggested laws approved by an institution led by a criminal suspect may not have legal force.

The public at large and legislators in the House have openly called for Akbar's resignation or suspension, but their demands have fallen on deaf ears. The House internal ruling was silent in cases where its chairman or other DPR leaders were standing trial for criminal case such as corruption.

Since there was no legal basis for removing Akbar from his post, House leaders had appealed for more time to discuss Akbar's case.

Golkar legislators, who naturally came to Akbar's defense, argued against moves to unseat the speaker, saying the legal process was still going on and he was innocent until proven guilty.

According to Sutardjo, the consultation meeting held last Tuesday decided that Akbar's leadership in DPR would be discussed in a joint meeting between the DPR leaders and fraction chairmen in the next sitting period.

He defended the decision, saying it was proper for the DPR to debate the issue at greater length.

According to Sutardjo, the DPR agreed to set a mechanism to anticipate Akbar's absence.

Based on article 21 of the House internal ruling, the tasks of Akbar would be temporarily taken over by his deputies and faction members.

Separately, spokesman for the Central Jakarta District Court Andi Samsan Nganro announced on Friday that Akbar's trial and that of murder defendant Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra would be moved to Hall B of the Jakarta fairground in Kemayoran, beginning from next week.

The shift of venue has been arranged, among other reasons, to accommodate the large numbers of court observers in both trials and to avoid traffic congestion around the Central Jakarta District Court where the trials are currently being held on Jl. Gajah Mada.

Andi, who is also a judge sitting on the panel of both trials, said that the court had received an official permit from the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights to move the trial venues.

"The court has already informed the Central Jakarta Prosecutor's Office on this matter. Other judges sitting on the panels of both trials will be informed as well and a letter on the matter will be issued soon," Andi said on Thursday.