To government's relief, Agus finally has lawyer

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Agus Budiman, an Indonesian in legal strife in the U.S. for overstaying his visa and a possible link to the Sept. 11 attack on New York and the Pentagon, has eventually got a lawyer.

After the Indonesian foreign ministry repeatedly refused to provide legal counsel, his parents have confirmed they have hired a lawyer for their son.

The news has especially delighted Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda, who has repeatedly said that the government wanted to see Indonesian citizens receive a fair trial in other countries but that the government had no finances to hire lawyers to represent them.

"We are closely following the legal process to ensure that Agus' rights as a suspect are protected. We want to see to it that Agus gets a fair trial," Hassan said after meeting President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Agus, arrested for immigration violations and illegally taking a job as a driver, arrived in the U.S. in October 2000. He was accompanied by Mohammad Belfas, who is wanted by federal authorities in connection with the Sept. 11 attacks.

Agus is accused of falsifying documents to help Belfas get a Virginia driver's license.

Last week, after an FBI agent testified against Agus, the U.S. federal magistrate ordered Agus be held without bail while awaiting trial on document fraud charges saying that the court could not ignore "the close relation" between him and the hijackers.

Hassan said that Agus' lawyer had said the fact that Agus had a close relation with one of the terrorists was not sufficient legal grounds to implicate him in the terror attacks.

"If Agus knew any of the suspects, it does not necessarily mean that he was involved," Hassan remarked.

The date of Agus's next hearing in court is unknown, he said.

On the other five Indonesian citizens detained for overstaying their visas in Colorado, he said they faced ordinary charges based on violation of immigration regulations.

Hassan said that as far as immigration procedures were concerned, it was a standard policy in all countries.

The five Indonesians were arrested during a raid on their boarding houses.

"Our representatives in the U.S. have made sure that the questioning was done politely," Hassan said.