By NNN-Bernama
Jakarta : The Golkar Party has officially called on the government to decide legal certainty on former president Soeharto by putting aside the criminal aspect of his legal case.
“Based on article 35 point C of Law on Prosecution, the attorney general has the authority to do that,” Indonesia’s Antara news agency quoted Deputy Chairman of the Golkar Party, Agung Laksono, as saying here on Sunday.
Golkar top executives held a meeting on Saturday night to discuss matters relating to the former president who is now being treated at Pertamina hospital for anemia and severe edema.
Most of the Golkar top executives attended the meeting, including Secretary General Soemarsono, Legal Affairs Chairman Muladi, Deputy Secretary General Rully Chairul Azwar and Chairman of Golkar Faction in the House Priyo Budisantoso.
Agung said that the legal case of Soeharto could not be taken to court for health reasons.
“This is uncertain status unless doctors say he is fine and can prove it,” the Golkar deputy chairman said.
Golkar also called on the state and people to treat and give respect to Soeharto for his capacity as a former head of state and for the great service he had contributed to the state.
In the meantime, Muladi said that based on article 77 of the Criminal Code, prosecution could be stopped if someone (defendant) passed away. “But we hope that Soeharto will recover soon,” he added.
He said that with legal certainty given to Soeharto’s case, the bad stigma against the former president could be eliminated.
Muladi said however that the Golkar request for deponering of Soeharto’s legal case was limited to the criminal aspect. The case of the civil aspect of his foundations could be continued.