Untung resigns from AGO over bribery scandal

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 06/28/2008 11:55 AM | National

Untung Udji Santoso tendered his resignation from the Attorney General's Office shortly after being dismissed as deputy attorney general for state administrative affairs for his alleged role in a major bribery scandal.

Deputy attorney general for internal affairs M.S. Rahardjo confirmed Friday he received a resignation letter from Untung a day earlier.

"Pak Untung phoned me this (Friday) morning, saying he accepted his dismissal from his position for the sake of the credibility of the Attorney General's Office," Rahardjo said.

He said Untung's resignation could hamper the AGO's efforts to deal with his possible disciplinary offenses in connection to the unfolding bribery scandal allegedly involving prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan and businesswoman Artalyta Suryani.

"Law 30/1980 on the code of ethics only regulates civil servants. So with his (Untung) resignation, it will be hard for us to charge him with violating the code of ethics," Rahardjo said.

He said the position of deputy attorney general for state administrative affairs is temporarily being filled by Untung's former secretary Suhartoyo.

Attorney General Hendarman Supandji said he had a shortlist of three candidates to replace Untung. They are Rahardjo's secretary Halius Hossen, AGO training center chief Darmono and a current deputy to the chief security minister for legal affairs, Edwin Pamimpin Situmorang.

Asked about his preferred choice, Hendarman said, "I'd like to find an AGO outsider."

Hendarman was apparently referring to Edwin, a former AGO prosecutor who is currently filling the position at the chief security minister's office.

Rahardjo said the Corruption Court had turned down the AGO's request to summon Artalyta about her alleged ties with Untung and other senior prosecutors.

"I received a notification letter yesterday (Thursday), saying that in order to support the objectivity of the investigation in the Artalyta trial, the court cannot approve our request to question her," he said.

As for the controversy over the legality of the AGO's plan to arrest Artalyta, Rahardjo said, "I'm aware it may have violated the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) law, but we did communicate the plan to the KPK chief.

"The plan was approved, so I believe the violation could be set aside."

However, KPK deputy chairman Chandra Hamzah said last week his office had never agreed with the AGO plan to arrest Artalyta.

Article 50 of the 2001 KPK law prohibits police and prosecutors from intervening in any KPK investigation and states that if these three institutions investigate a similar case, the police and the AGO must halt their inquiries. (nkn/dre)

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