'No faults in handling of PRD leader'

'No faults in handling of PRD leader'

JAKARTA (JP): The Attorney General's Office has said that all proper procedures were observed in the investigation of a Democratic People's Party (PRD) leader accused of subversion.

Petrus Hariyanto, the PRD Secretary General, had written a letter to Attorney General Singgih complaining that he had been intimidated by his interrogators, including a military intelligence officer who dropped in at one time.

Attorney General spokesman Suhartoyo said on Monday his office has continued to uphold the principle of presumption of innocence and that no coercion was used in the investigation.

He denied Petrus' claim that a military intelligence officer had dropped in during one interrogation to intimidate the suspect.

"The Attorney General's Office had checked with the interrogation team and found that none of them had heard of the military officer named in Petrus's letter," Suhartoyo said.

"The attorney general office would not let any other person to walk in unannounced during a questioning," he said.

Petrus is one of 10 people charged with subversion and are currently being interrogated by the Attorney General's Office in connection with the bloody riot in Central Jakarta on July 27.

PRD chairman Bambang Sudjatmiko and labor leader Muchtar Pakpahan, are also among the pack.

They have been accused of inciting the people to riot.

Petrus' lawyer, Irwan Irawan said yesterday he was present when the military officer, Moestrisno, walked in during the interrogation on Oct. 10. (26)