PDI Perjuangan claims that Akbar's trial is effective

PDI Perjuangan claims that Akbar's trial is effective

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Defying fierce criticism over its decision to block moves to
probe House Speaker Akbar Tandjung's alleged corruption, leaders
of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (DPI Perjuangan)
insisted on Saturday that the current legal process was going
well.

They, however, were silent when asked to explain in what way
the process could unravel Akbar's alleged corruption.

The public in general believe that Akbar's trial has been
designed to clear the Golkar chairman of any corruption
allegations.

"The legal process is working," PDI Perjuangan deputy
secretary-general Pramono Anung Wibowo said repeatedly without
elaboration.

He implied that PDI Perjuangan had rejected the setting up of
a House disciplinary committee in order to preserve political
stability. "If a disciplinary committee is set up," he said, "it
would unavoidably create political friction which could halt
economic recovery."

According to Pramono, the party's central board had floated
the idea of rejecting the probe early this year, but at that time
party members had disagreed.

However, after the party members examined the legal
investigation into the scandal they were able to accept the
party's stance.

Fellow legislator Firman Jaya Daeli, however, was quite candid
when he admitted that his party was focusing on the formality of
the trial process only, not its substance.

"We don't see the substance. We see the trial is working,"
Firman told The Jakarta Post here on Saturday.

Strong criticism has emerged since PDI Perjuangan secretary-
general Sutjipto announced that his party, the biggest faction in
the House with 153 seats, would not back a proposal to form a
disciplinary committee to investigate Akbar.

Akbar is currently standing trial at the Central Jakarta
District Court on charges that he misappropriated funds worth Rp
40 billion from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) in 1999.

Speculations are rife that Akbar spent the funds to finance
the campaign for the reelection of then president B.J. Habibie.

Akbar has repeatedly denied the charge.

Criminal law observer Topo Santoso of the University of
Indonesia's faculty of law expressed doubts on Saturday that the
trial of Akbar's scandal would expose the truth.

The fact that all expert witnesses were in favor of Akbar has
shown the lack of seriousness of the trial process, Topo said.

"If the trial was serious, it should disclose all the facts,"
Topo told the Post without elaborating.

Topo also criticized PDI Perjuangan's move, saying that an
investigative committee was still relevant at a time of crisis in
the judicial system.

Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW)'s chief of political
corruption division Wasingatu Zakiah concurred, stating that an
investigative committee was needed to disclose an alleged
scenario behind the scandal.

Zakiah said the ongoing legal process showed a number of
weaknesses.

She recounted that at first the Rp 40 billion was reported to
have been spent on a food aid project in 1999. It was reported
that the Raudhatul Jannah Islamic foundation had distributed the
food.

But later the Rp 40 billion was returned to the state, to
avoid claims that the food aid had caused state losses.

"This shows to the public that the scenario had been created.
The authorities have to deal with this," Zakiah added.

Amin Said Husni, secretary of the National Awakening Party
(PKB) faction, which has been at the forefront in calling for the
establishment of a disciplinary committee, refused to accuse any
party of backroom dealings, saying that the people were
monitoring the issue.

"That's the business of PDI Perjuangan. Let the people
evaluate this," Amin said.