Yesterday, hearings began in a Jakarta court in the case of the Speaker of the Indonesian Parliament and

Yesterday, hearings began in a Jakarta court in the case of the Speaker of the Indonesian Parliament and the leader of the second largest faction, Akbar Tanjung. He is accused that three years ago the speaker squandered money intended for bread for the poor on his own needs.
Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, who came to power last summer, has repeatedly vowed to end corruption. The speaker of the Indonesian People's Council (parliament) and leader of the second largest party in parliament, Golkar, Akbar Tandjung has become the highest-ranking victim of the anti-corruption campaign. Akbar Tanjung is accused of embezzling $3.8 million in 1999. As Indonesia's Secretary of State at the time, Mr. Tanjung supervised the activities of the food agency. However, instead of using the fund's funds for their intended purpose and helping the poor with food, Mr. Tanjung spent the money on his party's election campaign. If the prosecution succeeds in proving Mr. Tanjung guilty, he faces up to 20 years in prison. The speaker himself stubbornly denied all accusations against him. He pleaded not guilty during yesterday's hearing. The next court hearing will take place in a week.
If convicted, prosecutors could open a new case, this time against the Golkar party, accusing it of illegal financing. This development could lead to the party being banned from participating in the 2004 elections. Golkar, closely linked to ex-dictator Suharto, played a leading role in the country's political life for decades. Now she risks being completely excluded from it.
True, observers believe that the Golkar leadership may disown Akbar Tanjung and thereby try to save face. However, such a development of the situation is fraught with a split within the ranks of the party itself and among its many supporters throughout Indonesia.
ANTON B-CHERNYKH

Newspaper "Kommersant" No. 51 dated March 26, 2002, p. 10

The speaker will go to prison for embezzlement