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)