TNI waits for AGO to file report on Ginandjar

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesman Rear Marshall Graito Usodo insisted on Friday that the force would not hesitate to act against former minister of mines and energy Ginandjar Kartasasmita once the Attorney General's Office had filed a sufficient report to them.

"To date, the Attorney General's Office has yet to report to us about the case accusing Pak Ginandjar as we haven't yet been involved in the case," Graito told reporters at TNI headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.

Ginandjar, a retired Air Force vice marshall, is accused by prosecutors of abusing his power while serving as minister during the early 1990s causing state losses amounting to US$24.8 million.

During that time he was still an active military officer, which means that any legal proceedings against him must be conducted by the military.

The South Jakarta District Court on Wednesday ordered the Attorney General's Office to release Ginandjar who had been detained for a month.

Graito on Thursday maintained that the court's decision to release Ginandjar had nothing to do with TNI chief Adm. Widodo AS.

"The TNI chief will never intervene in the legal process of Pak Ginandjar. The investigation will continue even if he is released," Graito said.

Referring to TNI Legal Aid Body chief Maj. Gen. Timor Putra Manurung's earlier statement, Graito said that Ginandjar is subject to all existing laws, including Anticorruption Law No. 3/1971.

"But due to his position as an active military officer at that time, we must set up a joint military-police probe so the case can be brought to a civil court."

"So, we can see that nobody, not even someone from the military, is immune to the law," Graito said. (02/bby)