Said's trial must proceed: Prosecutors

Said's trial must proceed: Prosecutors

JAKARTA: Prosecutors demanded on Thursday that the Central Jakarta District Court reject defense pleas presented by lawyers for former religious minister Said Aqil Hussein Al-Munawwar currently on trial on graft charges.

In the previous hearing, defense lawyers argued that the charges against Said Aqil should be dismissed because the defendant had accounted for all haj funds to the President and the House of Representatives, so he should no longer be held responsible for that matter.

"We don't agree with that argument because the content of the report (to the President or the House) was general in manner and still needs to be verified," prosecutor Ranu Mihardja told the court on Thursday.

He said the report did not detail the use of haj funds, while the money was spent in violation of existing regulations, including the payment of state auditors and travel allowances for the religious minister and legislators.

Said Aqil could face a maximum life sentence in prison if he is proven guilty of embezzling more than Rp 700 billion (US$70 million) of haj funds. --Antara