To government's relief, Agus finally has lawyer

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.