AGO reassigns graft-tainted prosecutors

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 06/15/2009 9:56 AM  |  Headlines

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has appointed two prosecutors previously accused of accepting bribes by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to key positions, prompting public criticism.

Assistant attorney general Darmono confirmed Sunday that Muhammad Salim had been appointed as the AGO’s head of research and development unit while Fachmi is now the head of the Southeast Sulawesi High Court.   

“They don’t have capability or credibility problems so we see no problems with their appointment,” he said.  

Salim was removed from his position as director for investigations last year after his subordinate, state prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan, was convicted of accepting a US$660,000 bribe from businesswoman Artalyta Suryani, who was involved in the Bank Indonesia liquidity scandal.

During the trials, witnesses and evidence suggested that Muhammad Salim and his immediate boss Kemas Yahya Rahman exchanged information via telephone with Artalyta in order to help her to escape prosecution.

In a taped conversation heard at Urip’s trial, Kemas and Salim informed Artalyta about the AGO’s decision to drop Sjamsul’s case, followed by Artalyta saying that money was then available.

Earlier this year, the AGO tried to install Salim as a supervisor for a team investigating corruption cases across the country. However, the AGO bowed to wide and intense public pressure, removing him from the position.   

The AGO similarly removed two officials tainted by graft from their new posts as corruption investigation supervisors.

Prosecutor Fachmi, meanwhile, has been accused of accepting bribes from Adelin Lis, a convicted criminal in series of illegal logging cases, Antara reported.

The high court freed Adelin from all charges, prompting public outcry across the country.

Police, who wanted to arrest Adelin on separate charges of money laundering, could not find him, as the suspect disappeared after his acquittal.

He was later apprehended by the police, and in an appeal, the Supreme Court found him guilty, sentencing him to 10 years in prison.

Although it never publicly admitted any wrongdoing by Fachmi, the AGO took disciplinary action against him, removing him from his position as a key prosecutor within the office.

The Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) quickly condemned the AGO for reappointing the two prosecutors.

“The Attorney General has been deaf to the public’s criticism. How can he appoint such prosecutors
for such strategic positions. I think the AGO has many other graft-free officers,” Febri Diansyah of the ICW said.

He expressed concern Attorney General Hendarman Supandji only wanted to reward Salim for saving the AGO in the Urip case.

Although it was clear from the evidence in Urip’s trials that other high-ranking prosecutors were involved in the case, only Urip has been brought to trial and convicted by the court — so far.

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