The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has maintained that former justice minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra and businessman Hartono Tanoesoedibjo are simply witnesses in a trial involving former director general of legal administration Romli Atmasasmita, despite being implicated in the online corruption scandal.

State prosecutors told the panel of judges hearing Romli's corruption case at the South Jakarta District Court on Monday that the defendant, Yusril, played an equal role in the scandal with businessmen Hartono and Yohanes Waworuntu and former chief of the Justice Ministry cooperative Ali Amran Djanah.

"Under Article 55 of the Criminal Code on participation in a crime, all four, not including the defendant, have an equal standing in terms of participation in the crime," prosecutor Fadil Jumhana told the court.

Romli, a professor of law, is facing multiple charges of extortion and abuse of power in a case revolving around the running of an online service sisminbakum.com by PT SRD. Hartono was the co-owner of this service and Yohanes the president director.

Initiated in 2001 and owned by the Justice and Human Rights Ministry, the website offered public services such as the issuance of notarized acts and the registration of permits.

Prosecutors claimed the website had inflicted state losses and was suspended following the arrest of Romli earlier this year.

In their indictment, prosecutors said Romli committed a collective act of crime with Yohannes, Ali, Yusril and Hartono. Yohanes and Ali have been named as suspects in a similar case.

Romli's successors - Syamsuddin Manan Sinaga and Zulkarnaen Yunus - have also been declared suspects.

The indictment also stipulates that Romli signed the contract with Hartono which led to a controversial profit-sharing scheme.

The contract said 90 percent of the profits from the online system's services would go to SRD, with the rest going to ministry officials. Prosecutors claim the money should have gone to state coffers as nontaxable revenue.

The Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) found the online system had resulted in state losses of up to Rp 410 billion.

With about 200 applicants per day paying at least Rp 1.35 million each for services, the website amassed around Rp 5 billion a month before 2007 and up to Rp 9 billion afterwards.

Romli has testified that he issued policies concerning the online service upon order from his superior, then justice minister Yusril.

"To this date, both Yusril and Hartono remain witnesses in the case," AGO spokesman Jasman Panjaitan said Monday.

He said any change to their status would depend on developments from the trial.

Emerson Yuntho from Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) criticized the AGO's indecisiveness in dealing with Yusril and Hartono despite the court's findings.

"AGO should be all out in investigating the case and take action to follow up the court findings," Emerson said.

Yusril was dismissed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the state secretary in 2007. Following the legislative elections, Yusril's Crescent Star Party joined 22 political parties in signing a political contract to support Yudhoyono's re-election.

Separately, Assistant Attorney General for Special Crimes Marwan Effendy said the travel ban slapped on Hartono since Dec, 24 last year remained in effect, albeit partially.

"For the purpose of seeking medical attention, the ban has temporarily been lifted," Marwan said.

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