Antasari Azhar, facing murder charges at the South Jakarta District Court, was permanently dismissed from his position as chief of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
State Secretary Hatta Radjasa said Tuesday that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had signed a decree confirming Antasari's permanent dismissal on Sunday.
Antasari's dismissal followed his ongoing defence in the trial of the murder of Nasruddin Zulkarnaen.
Antasari went on trial Thursday with prosecutors indicting him for persuading media owner Sigit Hari Wibisono, former South Jakarta police chief Willardi Wizard and a businesman to kill Nasruddin, president of state-owned pharmacuetical company PT Rajawali Putra Banjaran.
"Next, in accordance with the 2002 Law on the KPK, a special team consisting of elements from the government and the public will be formed to select a permanent chief for the KPK.
"I have asked the justice and human rights minister to immediately form the team," Hatta said in a press conference.
He added the dismissal and the selection of new permanent KPK leaders were mandated by the KPK law.
Hatta said a selection team representing the government and civil groups should be formed without waiting for the inauguration of the new government on Oct. 20.
The selection team will seek candidates to replace Antasari and two suspended deputies.
For the time being, the President has appointed Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean as KPK chief and Mas Ahmad Santosa and Waluyo as deputies until a permanent chief and two permanent deputies are selected and sworn in.
Hatta said suspended deputies Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Hamzah would be returned to their position if their case was dropped, or would be dismissed if found guilty in the current graft case.
The appointment of the three interim leaders was based on a regulation-in-lieu-of-law to prop up the beleaguered anti-graft commission.
Hatta said should the probe into Chandra and Bibit be halted and the two were no longer named suspects, they would automatically resume their positions at the KPK.
"Or, the interim leaders will stop working if the selection team has worked and the House of Representatives has found new KPK leaders," he said.
"Yes, the selection process is ongoing; the minister for justice and human rights is forming the selection team."
Many have urged the police to stop criminalizing the two KPK deputies because there was no evidence the two had abused their power or taken a bribe from graft fugitive Anggoro Wijoyo.
Antasari was scheduled to present his legal defence against the indictment at the court tomorrow.
State prosecutors are charging him with murder under Article 340 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of death.
Prosecutor Cyrus Sinaga said Antasari was suspected to have worked with other defendants, Sigid Hari Wibisono and Snr. Comr. Wiliardi Wizard to employ hit men to murder Nasruddin.
Antasari was suspected to have asked for Rp 500 million (US$50,000) from Sigid as payment for the murder.
Antasari's lawyers said they would take a week to prepare for a defence against the indictment.
