Robert Go, Jakarta – Indonesia's Supreme Court yesterday postponed until next week its review of an appeal by the country's Speaker of Parliament and potential presidential candidate Akbar Tandjung, prompting protests from student groups and anti-corruption activists.

After deciding to review Akbar's appeal on February 4, a panel of five justices explained they had to study new evidence pertinent to the case. They declined to elaborate further.

Presiding Justice Paulus Lotulung told reporters that the panel needed more time so that its "decision will be truly independent and free from political pressure".

Akbar was found guilty on September 4, 2002, of embezzling the equivalent of US$4.7 million in state funds intended for public food assistance for the poor. He was sentenced to four years in prison by Central Jakarta's District Court. A Jakarta Superior Court last year reduced his sentence to three years.

But he has remained a free man pending a final decision from the Supreme Court. He has emerged as a key presidential candidate for Golkar, the political party of former president Suharto that he now leads.

Much is at stake for Akbar. If the Supreme Court upholds his convictions, he would have to start serving his sentence and his political career would be over.

A judgment in his favour, however, would keep his bid for the presidency alive and strengthen his position within Golkar, which is currently Indonesia's second strongest political party, but one that experts said could overtake President Megawati Sukarnoputri's PDI-P in the parliamentary elections in April.

Analysts, however, added that it is not only Akbar who is on trial here, but also the reputation and credibility of the entire Indonesian legal system. The courts here have been said to be incompetent and bribery prone.

Indonesia's foreign donors and potential investors have often said that legal reforms are needed before its economy can take off again.

Protesters, made up mostly of university students, yesterday threw tomatoes at the Supreme Court compound in reaction to the justices' decision.

Anti-graft activists said there was no reason for further delays in deciding Akbar's future, and speculated that politics and cash may be influencing the process.

Mr Hendardi, head of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association, said: "Justices have taken a very long time to decide. This is a public matter that should be dealt with quickly." Comparing Akbar's lengthy trials to the speedy trials of suspected terrorists, and said that both types of cases should be processed as quickly as possible.

"This delay is making people think that the courts are still susceptible to political and economic factors. Domestic and international opinions of Indonesia's legal system will be that there is no such thing as an independent judiciary here."