Court Cancels Suspension against Soeharto
Tuesday, 13 June, 2006 | 14:59 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The District Court of South Jakarta has canceled the Suspension of the Prosecution’s Case against Soeharto which was issued by the Attorney General's office. The verdict was taken yesterday at a pre-judicial meeting in response to the announcement.

The pre-judicial appeal was proposed by the Indonesian Legal Adviser’s Association (APHI), the People's Movement Coalition for Soeharto's Trial on 29 May this year. “The court has also stated that the prosecution against Soeharto be opened and proceed,” Andi Samsan said in his verdict yesterday.

According to Andi, the suspension of prosecution against Soeharto was in contrast with the Supreme Court verdict which instructed the Attorney General's office to provide medical care for Soeharto in order to enable him to attend a trial of a corruption case involving seven foundations.

Had Soeharto failed to recover, Andi said, the Attorney General's office would continue to see that Soeharto is treated until he is well. “Suspending the case is out of the question,” he added. In line with Andi, the reason of poor health to suspend the court session is not in accordance with the laws of criminal procedure.

Marwan Effendi, a member of the Attorney General's prosecution team, stated that they will appeal to a higher court. In addition, Johnson Panjaitan, said that to begin at this moment the Attorney General should work together with the other side and cooperate with other institutions so that the verdict can be applied.

Agoeng Wijaya