Soeharto trial venue rocked

Soeharto trial venue rocked

JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta District Court is due to begin
the long-awaited trial of former president Soeharto on Thursday
amid more uncertainty following an explosion adjacent to the
trial venue late on Wednesday night.

A parked yellow Koantas Bima city bus was left mangled by the
explosion. No casualties were reported and there was also little
damage to surrounding buildings.

The bus was parked in front of the Mitra Karya auto repair
shop on Jl. Taman Marga Satwa, South Jakarta, about 300 meters
across the street from the Ministry of Agriculture compound,
where the trial will be held.

Witnesses said they heard the explosion at about 10:00 p.m.,
describing it as a "great thundering sound" which alarmed
residents and brought them into the hitherto quiet street.

Jakarta Police chief of detectives Snr. Supt. Harry Montolalu
said he believed an explosive device planted under one of the
seats on the left side of the front of the bus caused the
explosion.

"We believe it was a large amount of firecrackers wrapped in
newspaper, but its (explosive power) was still below TNT level,"
he said adding that the bus was empty when the explosion
occurred.

The blast blew a hole in the roof and floor of the vehicle,
and shattered all the windows. Tiny pieces of newspaper were
sprinkled about the bus.

According to Harry, the bus driver, Bafri, had parked and left
the bus, which serves the Kampung Rambutan-Lebak Bulus route,
just before 10:00 p.m. to get something to eat, after which he
planned to go home.

Approximately 10 to 15 minutes later, the explosion occurred.

Both Bafri and Leman, the owner of the auto repair shop, were
being questioned by the South Jakarta Police.

Abdul Muis, a high school student who lives in the area, said
the bus was often parked in the vicinity at that time.

Wilman Sembiring, 42, a mechanic based next to the Mitra Karya
repair shop said he was working underneath a car when the
explosion occurred.

Wilman, who was about a dozen meters away, said the explosion
was loud but the ground did not shake.

Harry acknowledged that the attack was part of an act of
terror, but stressed that it might be going too far to connect it
with the impending Soeharto trial.

Just after midnight, the bus had been taken away by police for
further forensics tests.

By 1 a.m. on Thursday morning, no information was immediately
available on whether the trial would be affected by the
explosion.

Soeharto

This latest incident adds further uncertainty to a trial some
doubt will even see the presence of the defendant, Soeharto.

"I doubt Pak Harto will attend Thursday's hearing ... he's not
capable at all," Juan Felix Tampubolon, one of Soeharto's defense
attorneys, said on Wednesday.

"I have personally tried explaining to him the substance of
the trial. I can see that he is trying very hard to understand
what I am saying ... but he just cannot comprehend. He can't put
even his own thoughts into words," Juan said.

Sources close to the investigation said there would be a
meeting on Wednesday evening at Soeharto's residence in Menteng,
Central Jakarta, to discuss the matter.

Juan said that the medical team would arrive at the residence
of the ailing 79-year-old defendant at 7 a.m. on Thursday morning
to conduct an examination.

"After examining him, the medical team will declare whether my
client is fit to attend the hearing or not," he said.

Juan added that the hearing would not proceed if Soeharto was
not there in person to hear the charges read.

"The charges cannot be read in the absence of the defendant.
The idea is that even if he is present, but is not mentally fit
to be examined by the court, then his presence becomes useless,"
he said, referring to the Criminal Code Procedures (KUHAP).

Juan and Soeharto's other lawyers: Muhammad Assegaf, Otto
Cornelius Kaligis, Indriyanto Seno Adji, Denny Kailimang, Victor
Siregar and Syamsu Hadi came on Wednesday to inspect the chosen
venue for the hearing at the auditorium of the Ministry of
Agriculture in South Jakarta.

Soeharto is alleged to have misused some Rp 1.4 trillion and
some US$416 million of public funds in the seven charitable
foundations he chaired. He faces charges of stealing state money
by funneling it from tax-free charity foundations he ran into the
businesses of family and friends.

At least 100 police officers are guarding the venue around the
clock and a truck mounted water cannon and an armored car are on
standby.

City Police said earlier that at least 400 men would be
deployed in and around the venue.

City Police chief Insp. Gen. Nurfaizi, who inspected the venue
on Wednesday, said maximum security would be provided for
spectators.

As of Wednesday, South Jakarta District Court workers were
still preparing the venue, while police officers had already
installed metal detectors at the main entrance.

Despite promises made by South Jakarta District Court chief
Lalu Mariyun, TV screens have yet to be installed in certain
spots around the ministry for spectators not accommodated in the
courtroom.

Inside the auditorium, district court workers have completed
installing a raised platform on which the bench is set, while the
prosecutors' desk and dozens of wooden benches for the public
have been put in place.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and
Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Wednesday that
negotiations for the return of some of former president
Soeharto's wealth had been temporarily halted.

"The negotiation is halted to give way to the legal process,"
Susilo told reporters after attending a plenary session at the
House of Representatives.

He said the negotiation was part of the nation's effort to
overcome the economic crisis although it would not neglect the
legal process against the former president.

Susilo admitted to having met Soeharto's family twice for the
negotiation.

Separately, law experts called on the state prosecutors to be
tough and able to produce evidence to support the corruption
charges, while the judges hearing the case must maintain their
integrity.

Pontang Moerad, a criminal law expert at Padjadjaran
University in Bandung, said on Wednesday the prosecutors must be
well prepared. "They must have sufficient evidence and
appropriate witnesses."

He said both the prosecutors and the panel of judges must be
strong enough to stand up to political and public pressure.

Artidjo Alkostar from Yogyakarta's Islamic University of
Indonesia said the judges must be able to maintain their
integrity and respect the principle of law.

He warned that Soeharto's trial would become the yardstick by
which the country's law enforcement and judiciary would be
measured.

Artidjo, a candidate to become the chief justice of the
Supreme Court, said the panel of judges would receive political
pressure and also would likely be offered bribes.

"They must have the courage to reject any bribery offers. On
the other hand, the judges can not favor the government's
interests or bow to public pressure," he said.

All the experts said one of the main problems in the trial was
that Soeharto already was seen as guilty in many circles. Both
the prosecutors and the judges must have the courage to say
"guilty" if the defendant is guilty, and to exonerate him if he
is innocent, they said. (ylt/jun/25/44/sur)