Sri Bintang's trial gets new prosecutor

Sri Bintang's trial gets new prosecutor

JAKARTA (JP): Lesbassa Habel replaced S.T. Silangit as the
prosecuting attorney yesterday in the ongoing subversion trial of
Sri Bintang Pamungkas at the South Jakarta District Court.

"A letter dated Jan. 19 from the deputy attorney general for
special crimes has instructed prosecutor Silangit to handle a
corruption case in Surabaya (East Java)," Lesbassa said.

"The letter does not explain how long Silangit will be
assigned to Surabaya, but the point is... he has already been
assigned," Lesbassa told journalists.

Attorney General Singgih signaled last week that Silangit
could be replaced by another prosecutor to smoothen proceedings
of the trial which had been dogged by delays and protests from
the defendant.

The earlier proceedings continued at a snail's pace as Bintang
maintained his objection against Silangit's appointment.

Even during the Dec. 29 session, Bintang and his lawyers
walked out of the courtroom in protest of Silangit's appointment.

One of Bintang's lawyers, R.O. Tambunan, said Silangit had
treated Bintang harshly while interrogating him last year.

Bintang claimed Silangit bumped into him as if looking for a
fight, and also tried to hit him twice.

Bintang asked the court last month to replace Silangit on
grounds that the latter had both acted as the investigating
officer and prosecutor.

He argued that Silangit's "dual position" could result in "a
conflict of interest" which could obstruct justice.

The presiding judge at the South Jakarta District Court,
Darlan Nasution, adjourned the trial until Feb. 9 to hear the
defendant's legal exception as Bintang could not appear before
the court yesterday due to his poor health.

Bintang, who was expelled from the House of Representatives in
1995, is currently serving a 34-month prison term for insulting
President Soeharto during a speech in Germany three years ago.

He lost his seat in the House after the political faction he
belonged to, the United Development Party, disowned him for
repeatedly criticizing the Armed Forces' role in politics.

Bintang is now being tried for subversion as a result of his
activities in the Indonesian Democratic Union Party (PUDI) which
the government does not recognize.

Among other charges which have been brought against him was
his call to boycott the May 1997 general election, sent last year
in his Idul Fitri greetings cards to many people, including
government officials. (10)