Prosecutors replaced amid bribery scandal

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 03/18/2008 1:16 AM  |  Headlines

Attorney General Hendarman Supandji has replaced Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes Kemas Yahya Rahman and Director of Investigations M. Salim in connection with a high-profile bribery case involving a state prosecutor.

Hendarman said here Monday the case had damaged the reputation of the Attorney General's Office.

"We are replacing both Kemas and Salim as part of our efforts to restore the office's reputation," Hendarman said, as quoted by Antara news agency.

The AGO will hold a meeting Tuesday to discuss replacements for Kemas and Salim.

The two have been questioned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) following the arrest of prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan, who was caught last month by graft body investigators allegedly accepting a US$660,000 bribe from businesswoman Artalita Suryani.

The KPK has named Urip and Artalita suspects in the case and are detaining both to accelerate the investigation.

Investigators are seeking a connection between the bribery case and the decision by the Attorney General's Office to halt an investigation into the alleged embezzlement of Bank Indonesia liquidity assistance (BLBI) funds by Sjamsul Nursalim and Anthony Salim.

Urip led the investigation into the two businessmen.

Hendarman has come under pressure to dismiss other prosecutors involved in the BLBI funds investigation following the arrest of Urip.

When asked about the decision to replace him, Kemas only said he would follow his superior's orders. Salim declined comment on the matter.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said the graft body could question more people as witnesses in the bribery case.

He said the KPK was looking for possible motives behind the alleged bribery and trying to determine if any other parties supported Urip's actions.

"As part of the investigation process, the KPK last week sent summons asking for explanations from five prosecutors at the AGO. They are Amran Lakoni, Adi Triprabowo, Eko Hening Wardono, Hendro Dewanto and Yunita Arifin," he said.

These five prosecutors helped Urip investigate the alleged embezzlement of BLBI funds by Sjamsul.

"Unfortunately, they have not yet come in for questioning because they say they have not received the summons yet," Johan said, adding that KPK would summon them again.

The KPK was able to question Artalita again Monday.

She arrived at the graft body's office at 11:20 a.m. and gave few comments to journalists.

She only denied allegations her business with Urip had anything to do with Sjamsul's case.

Urip led 10 prosecutors from the AGO in investigating Sjamsul's case. The office dropped the investigation due to lack of evidence on Feb. 29.

Artalita said she and her late husband Surya Dharma had no connection to the troubled Bank Dagang Negara Indonesia (BDNI), which belonged to Sjamsul.

"I never worked as a secretary and my husband never served as a director at the bank," she said upon her arrival.

She denied reports KPK officials arrested her and Urip inside her house in the Simprug residential complex in South Jakarta.

"His arrest occurred outside of my house," she said, adding that the house belonged to her, not Sjamsul. "I have lived in the house for the past few years." (ewd)

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