Wanted: Special prosecutors for Akbar
Kurniawan Hari, Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
An anticorruption campaigner proposed on Monday that the Attorney General's Office assign special prosecutors to deal with the misappropriation of Rp 40 billion in funds from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) allegedly involving Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung.
"Special prosecutors are necessary to handle the case because it involves the head of Golkar," said Todung Mulya Lubis on the sidelines of a discussion at the House of Representatives.
Todung was commenting on the lack of progress in handling the Bulog case that has implicated Akbar, former military chief Gen. (ret.) Wiranto and possibly former president B.J. Habibie.
Akbar received the fund in 1999 when he was the state/cabinet secretary. He has denied the allegation, arguing that he spent the money to buy basic commodities for the poor.
The Attorney General's Office will summon Akbar and Wiranto on Wednesday.
Todung added that the special prosecutor must not come from the Attorney General's Office, but should be an academician, legal practitioner, or legislator.
"Well, it's just like Kenneth Starr investigating the Monica Lewinsky's scandal," he said, referring to the sex scandal involving former U.S. president Bill Clinton and the White House intern.
Todung, an executive of the Jakarta Lawyers Club, said the special prosecutor must be given full authority to probe the case.
He lamented that all cases related to Golkar in the past were left unsolved.
He said he hoped the legal process would serve as a warning to all politicians of the tough penalty they could receive if they were found guilty of being involved in money politics.
He said that if the court of justice could prove the allegations that Akbar siphoned the money for Golkar, the party would be dissolved.
Separately, Akbar said he had received the summons from the Attorney General's Office.
He is scheduled for questioning as a witness in the case. The suspect is former Bulog chief Rahardi Ramelan.