Graft suspect to file pretrial lawsuit against KPK
The Jakarta Post | National | Wed, February 03 2010, 9:14 AM
Former minister Bachtiar Chamsyah, who has been named a suspect in a graft case by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), plans to file a pretrial lawsuit against the antigraft body, one of his lawyer said Wednesday.
Lawyer Fauzie Yusuf Hasibuan told tempointeraktif.com that the KPK had denied his client his constitutional rights by announcing that his client had been named a suspect to the media without officially telling Bachtiar.
Fauzie also claimed that the KPK had never summoned Bachtiar over the graft case prior to the announcement.
Bachtiar was named a suspect Monday in a graft case involving the procurement of sewing machines and the import of cattle during his term. The KPK said it might announce other suspects in the case.
Bachtiar was alleged to have directly appointed certain companies in the procurement of sewing machines and the import of cattle – intended for distribution to the poor under the government’s poverty eradication program between 2004 and 2006. He also allegedly inflated the price of the goods.
Separately, KPK spokesman Johan Budi said that the anticorruption body would be ready to face the lawsuit. “[They] should go ahead [with the suit]. They have the right to do so,” he said.
