Nurfika Osman – Noted political dissident George Junus Aditjondro and his book alleging Bank Century bailout money was siphoned off by the Democratic Party are in trouble with the law but not for the contents of the book.

Aditjondro is to be charged with using his book – "Unraveling the Cikeas Octopus" – to assault Democrat lawmaker Ramadhan Pohan when during the book's formal launch the author went for a second more impromptu launching and allegedly threw the book in the face of the startled lawmaker.

South Jakarta Police Chief Gatot Edy Pramono told the Jakarta Globe on Sunday that they would charge Aditjondro with "offensive treatment," including battery as defined by Article 335 of the Criminal Code and "minor maltreatment" of another person as defined by Article 352. The former offence is punishable by up to a year in jail, the latter a maximum sentence of three months in jail.

Pohan had arrived uninvited at the launch to defend President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono against allegations made in the book that some of the Bank Century bailout money was used by the Democrats or Yudhoyono ahead of last years legislative and presidential elections. The moment was captured by television cameras.

"We have evidence, including testimony from witnesses and the recording of the smack," Gatot said. "We hope Aditjondro can come in for questioning on Monday [today]."

Aditjondro's lawyer, Panca Nainggolan, said his client had not received any summons. "We think it's strange that the police are saying they summoned our client when we haven't received anything."

Panca said Aditjondro first heard the news on Saturday and called him, saying that as a good citizen he would obey the summons. "We'll confirm this matter with the police on Monday," he said. "There's a possibility I'll come to the police office."

He also said that there was a chance of confirming this to the police by telephone. "We're going to respond to the summons," he said. "George is not going to come to the police office, but our client intends to be cooperative."

Separately, Aditjondro's aide told the Jakarta Globe that George was not available for comment as he was focusing on his second book, which is about campaign financing irregularities. "He can't be disturbed at the moment," the aide said. "He knows that the police have named him a suspect, but he's fine with that."

Haris Rusly Moti, the head of the Petition of 28, an umbrella group of nongovernmental organizations and individuals who supported the investigation of the Century case said "it seems that this case [naming Aditjondro as a suspect] is more important than investigating the Rp 6.7 trillion bailout fund."