Soeharto's trial begins next Thursday: Judge
JAKARTA (JP): The initial hearing of former president Soeharto's alleged corruption case will convene on Thursday next week at the Ministry of Agriculture in South Jakarta, head of the district court Lalu Mariyun announced on Wednesday.
According to local police precinct chief, Sr. Supt. Edward Aritonang, who accompanied judge Lalu in the meeting, some 500 troops (not 250 as reported earlier) would be deployed to secure the hearing.
"We will have more troops ready at City Police and the National Police Headquarters, should anything happen," Edward said.
The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in the ministry's 400-seat auditorium, of which 200 seats will be reserved for the press and the remainder open to the public.
At Wednesday's conference at Lalu's office, Aritonang and Lalu were accompanied by district court deputy chief Soemarno, the court spokesman Soedarto, South Jakarta Prosecutor's Office chief Barman Zahir, and district court clerks chief Ramadhan Rizal.
"Security of the witnesses, judges, lawyers, court clerks, the defendant and the audience is in our hands. We've done our utmost and can only hope that nothing goes wrong," Aritonang said, adding that the City Military command have troops on standby for backup.
"The entrance gates to the ministry will be tightly secured. There will be officers securing the evidence -- important documents and other equipment -- to ensure its security," Aritonang said.
Aritonang added that reporters and photographers were obliged to wear two identification cards.
"Get the first ID card from the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office, and show it to Judge Soedarto of the South Jakarta District Court, to get the second ID card. Only one card will not get you into the ministry," Aritonang said.
According to Lalu, the district court had ordered prosecutors to ensure that defendant Soeharto attended the first and subsequent hearings.
Lalu said that by law, a defendant can only miss one court appearance without sanction.
"If he should not turn up for more than one hearing, we will take actions as stipulated in Criminal Code Procedures," Lalu said, adding that he had yet to hear from the defendant's lawyers on Soeharto's present health.
Soeharto has been charged by prosecutors with misusing some Rp 1.4 trillion and US$416 million donated to his seven tax-free charitable foundations.
He is charged with violating Article 1(a) of Law No. 3/1971 on Corruption by deliberately enriching himself at the state's expense.
Soeharto is also subject to subsidiary charges as provided for by Article 1(b) of the corruption statute, under which a defendant may be convicted for abuse of power so as to cause losses to the state.
Both articles carry a maximum life sentence and a minimum of 20-years imprisonment, plus a maximum fine of Rp 30 million.
Attorney General Marzuki Darusman announced earlier this month that Soeharto was fit to stand trial.
Soeharto's lawyers have repeatedly claimed that their client is too ill to face trial because he cannot remember past events and is suffering from brain damage. Earlier this month, the 79- year-old suspect was admitted to a hospital for brief medical treatment.
President Abdurrahman Wahid has repeatedly stated he would pardon Soeharto if he was found guilty. But the President has insisted that any such pardon must be preceded by a trial. (ylt)