AGO TO APPEAL COURT'S NOT-GUILTY VERDICT ON MUCHDI

Jakarta, Jan 5 (ANTARA) - The Attorney General's Office (AGO)will appeal the South Jakarta District Court's not-guilty verdict on Muchdi Purwopranjono in the Munir murder case, the office's chief said.
"We will certainly appeal (the court verdict). We are convinced a murder was committed," Attorney General Hendarman Supandji said at the presidential office here Monday.
He said the appeal would be filed with a higher court within 14 days after the public prosecutor's office had officially declared its decision to appeal.
"It is now still being processed. Later, in 14 days' time, we will submit it. We just declared our decision," he said.
He said his office would make the appeal because the district court's ruling did not exonerate the defendant but only acquitted him from the legal charges.
"So public prosecutors have to prove it. Only after that will other legal considerations be made," he said.
Supandji said the public prosecutor's office would not present new evidence but question the South Jakarta District Court's false decision.
A panel of judges at the South Jakarta District Court on December 31 acquitted Muchdi from charges of involvement in Munir's killing.
In their considerations, the judges said the prosecution had failed to prove both its primary and secondary accusations.