Prosecutor faces intimidation

JAKARTA (JP): The head of South Jakarta prosecutor's office Antasari Azhar is reported to have received threatening phone calls last weekend and was followed by people driving a jeep.

The Attorney General's Office spokesman Muljohardjo said on Monday that the first call was received by a member of Antasari's staff on Friday, saying, "The judge has been killed, now that leaves the attorney and the prosecutor."

"The callers also phoned Antasari's house in Tangerang with a similar message," Muljohardjo told reporters, as quoted by Antara.

Muljohardjo assumed that the callers referred to judge Syafiuddin Kartasasmita who was shot dead last Thursday morning while driving to work.

Syafiuddin headed the panel of judges last year that sentenced to 18 months jail former president Soeharto's son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, who is still at large.

Antasari, meanwhile, should have executed the Supreme Court's ruling to put Tommy to jail.

Muljohardjo added that the callers continued to phone Antasari's house during the weekend, with messages like, "I know the prosecutor's car and where he is now. Prepare the yellow flags because we will pick up the victim soon."

Antasari, he said, reported the incident to Taman Puring Police subprecinct in South Jakarta and also Serpong Police subprecinct in Tangerang. He has now been provided with police security. (hdn)