Supreme Court to hear Akbar's case

JAKARTA: The Supreme Court will hear the appeal of Akbar Tandjung, the speaker of the House of Representatives, who has been sentenced to three-years in jail for corruption.

An official with the Supreme Court said on Tuesday that Akbar's lawyer had filed the appeal last month. The court has yet to form a panel of judges to try the case.

The registration official said it usually took the Supreme Court one month to form a panel to hear appeals.

The Jakarta High Court upheld in January the Central Jakarta District Court's jail sentence passed on Akbar for the misappropriation of Rp 40 billion (US$4 million) of Bulog funds intended to feed the poor.

The verdict prompted House legislators to renew their calls for Akbar's resignation on moral and ethical grounds. The conviction also threatens Akbar's position as the chairman of the Golkar Party and his bid for the presidency in 2004. -- JP