Suspend July 27 probe: Lawyers
JAKARTA (JP): City Governor Sutiyoso admitted on Friday that his lawyers had asked police to suspend the investigation of his alleged involvement in the attack on the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) headquarters in Central Jakarta on July 27, 1996.
"But it wasn't my idea. That was my lawyers initiative," Sutiyoso said.
Sutiyoso was Jakarta Military Commander at that time.
The governor claimed that he actually wanted the investigation against him to be conducted in accordance with proper procedures.
He further denied requesting help from Indonesian Military (TNI) officials or other senior state institutions to stop the investigation.
"I'm ready to face the worst scenario. I'm even prepared to be jailed (if I'm found guilty)," the retired three-star general said.
Despite claiming to have not initiated the request to police, Sutiyoso said he understood why his lawyers were insistent in demanding a suspension of the investigation, saying that it was their duty to win their client's case.
Asked about his feelings should he win the case, the governor replied: "Alhamdullilah (thank God) if I win. I'm not a hypocrite."
Sutiyoso's lawyers, led by Indra Sahnun Lubis, visited National Police Headquarters on Wednesday to submit a letter demanding an end to the investigation.
It is still unclear as to what grounds the lawyers used to base their demand.
Sutiyoso was declared a suspect in the case by police in November last year. Several military and police officers and some civilians were also named suspects in the attack on the PDI headquarters, which are located on Jl. Diponegoro, Central Jakarta.
At least five people were killed and dozens of PDI supporters were reported missing as a result of the incident, which triggered a massive riot in the area.
The attack was conducted by the party's splinter groups, allegedly helped by military and police officers who wanted to seize control of the headquarters from supporters of Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Ancol
In a separate development, Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Surjadi Soedirdja said on Friday that he had no objections to police or prosecutors questioning Sutiyoso over a controversial foreign trip financed by city-owned firm PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol, known as the Ancol scandal.
Talking to reporters after Friday prayers, however, Surjadi said that it was the President who holds final authority with regard to Sutiyoso's questioning.
"The letter from the Prosecutor's Office seeking permission to question Pak Sutiyoso is still on the President's desk," Surjadi said, while adding that his own authority could only "give approval to the police or prosecutors to examine regents or mayors".
The Ancol scandal concerns a comparative study trip to Australia, Japan and South Africa taken by several city officials and 16 councillors in October last year.
Controversy erupted after it was discovered that, apart from receiving a personal travel allowance of between US$5,000 to S$10,000 from the Ancol recreation park operator, they also received an additional Rp 52 million ($4,727) each from the City Budget.
The Jakarta Prosecutor's Office has so far focused its investigation on three councillors who allegedly received the travel allowances but did not join the trip. (02/jun)