Replaced deputy attorney generals skip ceremony

Replaced deputy attorney generals skip ceremony

JAKARTA (JP): Two of the four deputy attorney generals removed
from their posts were absent from the transfer of duty ceremony
at the Attorney General's Office on Wednesday.

Absent were Antonius Sujata, deputy attorney general of
special crimes, and Soehandjono, deputy attorney general for
state and civil administrative affairs, Antara reported.

Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib speculated after the ceremony
that Antonius may have chosen not to attend because he was
awaiting a decision on his request for early retirement.

"I have received the proposal and am still considering it,"
Ghalib said.

Antonius, who led the recent investigation into collusion,
corruption and nepotism practices allegedly committed by former
president Soeharto, told reporters on Tuesday he submitted the
request on Monday.

Soehandjono was absent because he was undergoing a medical
checkup, Ghalib said.

Antonius appeared on a noon news broadcast on private SCTV
television station. He was interviewed about his replacement
together with former deputy attorney general for intelligence
affairs Syamsu Djalaludin, who also was replaced earlier this
year.

In Wednesday's major reshuffle, Antonius was replaced by
Ramelan, the former deputy general for general crimes. Ramelan's
post was handed over to M. Rahman, a former member of the
attorney general's staff.

W.H. Jacob Rahim Saleh was installed as the new deputy
attorney general for state and civil administrative affairs,
replacing Soehandjono.

Syahmardan Lubis, the former head of Jakarta Prosecutor's
Office, replaced Jacob as the deputy attorney general for
supervision.

Antonius and Soehandjono would later be assigned to the
attorney general's staff of experts.

Ghalib stressed that the reshuffle was a common tour of duty
intended to reinvigorate the office's working situation, which
was described as challenging due to the volume of work.

He denied that the sudden reshuffle was linked to recent
reports run in local media on the Soeharto investigation,
complete with the transcripts of the questioning of the former
president on Dec. 9 last year. Ghalib said he checked with
Antonius about the original transcripts of the questioning and
they remained in his office's possession. (emf)