Jakarta – A former prominent legislator whose book on President Soeharto's government was banned early this year has been charged with insulting the Indonesian leader, his lawyer said today.

Police plan to interrogate Subadio Sastrosatomo on Monday, said Hendardi of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association. His aide already has been arrested on charges of distributing the book.

Insulting the President is punishable by up to six years in prison.

Subadio, 78, was a national legislator during Indonesia's period of parliamentary democracy in the 1950s and 1960's, which ended when Soeharto took power from President Sukarno in 1966.

Subadio, popularly known as Badio, was questioned twice in March about his book, "New Era - New Leader: Badio Rejects the Scheme of the New Order Regime." It is believed to criticise Soeharto for allowing corruption and nepotism and for using the military to stiffle democracy in Indonesia.

"While the country is now dealing with the "festival of democracy", a concrete fact shows the use of a non-democratic way through a legal process against those having different political opinions", said a statement by Hendardi.