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)