Suspend July 27 probe: Lawyers

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)