Suspect Akbar back to House, claims he is still in control
Suspect Akbar back to House, claims he is still in control
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Corruption suspect House Speaker Akbar Tandjung reported back to
work on Wednesday, declaring that he was still the speaker of the
House of Representatives (DPR).
Akbar, who is standing trial at the Central Jakarta District
Court for allegedly misusing Rp 40 billion (US$4.1 million) of
State Logistics Agency (Bulog) funds in 1999, arrived at the
House at around 10 a.m., accompanied by his driver only.
He appeared rather depressed.
A dozen Golkar legislators, including Golkar faction chairman
Marzuki Achmad, secretary Daryatmo Mardianto, Hafiz Zawawi and
Evita Asmalda, welcomed Akbar at the main door of the House
building.
However, none of the four deputy speakers welcomed Akbar's
return to the House.
"I have decided to come even though the House is currently in
recess ... as the House speaker, I am allowed to come at any
time," Akbar told the media upon his arrival.
His arrival at the House challenged mounting public demands
that Akbar, 56, had to resign from his post as speaker of the
House, one of the country's highest institutions, on the grounds
that he had lost his moral authority to lead it.
His visit to the House on Wednesday was his fist since he was
freed from detention on Friday.
Akbar assured that his activities at the House would not
disrupt the current trial process at the Central Jakarta District
Court.
"I meet regularly with my lawyers to discuss the trial and my
presence here doesn't mean that I'm ignoring the trial," said
Akbar, adding that if legislative programs conflicted with court
trial schedules, he would choose to attend the court hearing.
Akbar was apparently referring to statements by deputy House
speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno of the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and Ali Masykur Musa of the
National Awakening Party (PKB) that he should focus on the trial.
Legislators also planned to form a committee of inquiry into
the scandal, but deferred the decision, pending a court verdict.
Akbar said he was allowed to go anywhere as long as the
journey did not disturb the trial process.
"I am free. I can go to the regions or travel out of town as
long as the journey doesn't affect the trial," Akbar said.
Several Golkar legislators were seen visiting Abkar at his
office. They included Ade Komaruddin, Baharuddin Aritonang, Bomer
Pasaribu, Darul Siska and Datuk Labuan.
A legislator from President Megawati Soekarnoputri's
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Aberson
Marle Sihaloho also visited the beleaguered Golkar chairman.
Akbar, the highest official taken to court for corruption, was
released from detention last Friday on the personal guarantee of
his wife, Krisnina Maharani.
His release sparked speculation that Golkar had reached a
covert political deal with the ruling PDI Perjuangan, as Akbar's
codefendants, Dadang Sukandar and Winfried Simatupang, have been
denied such a privilege. Another corruption suspect, Rahardi
Ramelan, had his detention extended by 60 days by the South
Jakarta District Court.
Akbar refuted the speculation on Wednesday.
"We know that the legal process cannot be affected by any
opinion from outside. Let's trust the legal process," he said.
Akbar said that a suspect should be considered innocent until
proven guilty by the court and, based on the principle of the
presumption of innocence, a suspect should be allowed to perform
his duties until he was declared guilty.