'SCTV' to help court with videoconference

The South Jakarta District Court will likely become the first court in the country to use videoconferencing technology with its use mooted in the ongoing corruption trial of former chief of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) Rahardi Ramelan.

Presiding Judge Lalu Mariyun said Wednesday that the SCTV private television station had offered the court technology to hear the testimony of former president B.J. Habibie live from his home in Germany.

"We will discuss the matter with the prosecutors, the lawyers and SCTV. The court will announce the decision next week," said Lalu, who insisted that Habibie's testimony be heard live.

Other private TV channels were welcome to assist in the logistics as well, Lalu added.

The court will also ask permission from the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights to conduct the videoconference.

Chief prosecutor Kemas Yahya Rahman said his supervisors at the Attorney General's Office approved the idea as long as they did not have to bear the costs due to a lack of funds.

Habibie is a key witness in the trial of Rahardi, who is accused of misusing Rp 62.9 billion (about US$7.27 million) of Bulog funds in 1999.

Akbar Tandjung, then the state secretary/minister, received Rp 40 billion of the funds for a charitable project, which was ordered by Habibie who was then president.

Akbar, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and head of the powerful Golkar party, is currently facing charges in the same case, along with two other defendants. Many believe the money was used to finance the Golkar party in the 1999 elections. -- JP