DEMOCRAT Party official Ruhut Sitompul knows how to please his former boss, Akbar Tandjung. At a restaurant in Senayan, Central Jakarta, unprompted he explained how Akbar had never been involved in the alleged scam of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) funds, eight years ago. “Bang Akbar was acquitted and the decision is legally binding,” he said.

On that day a torrential downpour fell on Jakarta. Akbar, on his way to Gambir train station, t