Prosecutors grill Indonesian speaker

Tandjung is accused of siphoning off state money

Indonesian prosecutors spent more than four hours on Tuesday questioning parliamentary speaker Akbar Tandjung over allegations of corruption.

Mr Tandjung, who leads the Golkar party of deposed President Suharto, said afterwards he stuck by his original statements that he had done no wrong.

I've told them I'm still not guilty

Akbar Tandjung

He said he expected to be questioned again by staff at the attorney general's office but no date had been set.

Mr Tandjung is accused of using his position as state secretary to President BJ Habibie in 1999 to siphon off $4m of state funds for Golkar's election campaign that year.

He has denied all the charges, saying he gave the money to the Islamic charity Raudlatul Jannah to be used for food aid to the poor. But prosecutors say there is no evidence of any food being delivered.

Mr Tandjung said: "I was asked a total of 17 questions which have been developed from the questions that were asked when I was questioned as a witness."

"The prosecutors asked me whether I stuck with my earlier statement. I've told them I'm still not guilty," he added.

In theory, Golkar could be dissolved for breaking regulations on election spending.

Our Jakarta correspondent says the scandal could have repercussions for many members of the political elite.