Mock court finds defendants guilty

Mock court finds defendants guilty

JAKARTA: All defendants in a financial scandal were sentenced to between 10-years and 20-years jail on Wednesday by a people's tribunal held to mock the ongoing trial of House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung.

The panel of 'judges', presided over by government critic Wimanjaya K. Liotohe, also concluded all the witnesses had told too many lies during the theatrical trial held at Gedong Joang building on Jl. Menteng Raya in Central Jakarta.

Defendant, former president BG Habibun, was handed the heaviest punishment while fellow defendants House speaker Kabir Tundjang and former State Logistics Agency (Bulog) chief Rahardi Ramelan received 10-year jail respectively for their role in the graft. The three were also fined Rp 1 billion each.

Dozens of people attending the trial clapped their hands to welcome the verdict, which also ordered dissolution of the Ghost House Party which Kabir chairs.

A lunch get-together wrapped up the hearing which reflected the people's distrust of the real ongoing legal process against Golkar chairman Akbar. -- JP