Wanted: Special prosecutors for Akbar

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.