AGO: Soeharto Verdict ‘Inconsistent’
Tuesday, 20 June, 2006 | 13:04 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has decided that the South Jakarta District Court was inconsistent in its verdict of a pre-trial appeal on Suspension of the Prosecution's Case (SKP3) against former President Soeharto. Attorney Marwan Effendi, an AGO prosecutor in a prejudicial session, said that the court had a double standard when imposing a verdict that the SKP3 was illegal and the case is to be re-opened.

“When Lalu Mariyun held the position of Head of South Jakarta District Court and head of the board of judges as well, he once rejected the Soeharto case,” said Marwan yesterday at the AGO.

According to Marwan, the judge had issued an improper verdict. The verdict, he said, was only a statement despite an order to execute. Marwan argued the reason for that was that the pre-trial verdict contradicted the Supreme Court verdict.

The Supreme Court verdict stated that the AGO was ordered to provide medical care to Soeharto until he was well. And if Soeharto restored his health , he could then attend a trial.

By virtue of the inconsistencies, the AGO insisted on appealing the pre-trial verdict. Marwan said that the AGO has finished examining the appeal. “In one or two more days the file will be submitted to the court,”
When contacted, Judge Andi Samsan Nganro, who decided to ask for the pre-trial , refused to comment. “We'll give it over to the law to evaluate whether the verdict was legal or not,” he said yesterday.

AGOENG WIJAYA