Indonesia president reports ex-MP over marriage row

JAKARTA, July 30 (Reuters) Indonesia's president has filed a police complaint after a polygamous former legislator accused the leader of lying about his marriage to join a prestigious military academy in 1970, police said today.

Zaenal Ma'arif, who was sacked as legislator after taking a second wife, has said he had evidence that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was in a previous marriage before joining the academy, in breach of rules requiring cadets to be single.

The president had filed a police complaint against Ma'arif yesterday, Jakarta police spokesman Untung Yoga Ana said.

''We treat the case just like other cases,'' Ana said.

The police would investigate the complaint and decide on whether it should be pursued.

Presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng told reporters the accusation was false.

''It's not true. Is there evidence?'' He said Yudhoyono had filed the complaint after laws banning insults against the president were scrapped last year.

''The Constitutional Court has revoked an article (in the criminal code) on insulting the president. In the past there was no need to file a complaint.'' The state Antara news agency said that Yudhoyono, a retired general, had said the accusation had hurt his family.

''Rumour has it that I had been married before joining Akabri (the military academy) and I had two children. This is exactly the same black campaign, slander and false news during campaigning for the 2004 presidential election,'' Yudhoyono was quoted as saying.

Ma'arif, who was a deputy speaker at the House of Representatives, made the allegation after the president approved the politician's dismissal as a lawmaker representing a small Muslim-based party.

Antara quoted the former legislator as saying he would do whatever the law required, but added that a police report should have been filed after others had made similar allegations.

Maarif added that he planned to provide evidence to the president and the House of Representatives on Monday.

REUTERS SW PM1255