Yusril contests attorney general's legitimacy

JAKARTA: Former justice and human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra has requested a judicial review of contentious articles in the 2004 Attorney General's Office (AGO) Law in a bid to contest the legality of Attorney General Hendarman Supandji's position.

Yusril filed his request with the Constitutional Court on Tuesday, saying he was responding to Hendarman's challenge to prove the legitimacy of his post before a court.

"We cannot settle this outside *the courtroom*. I hope the President appoints Hendarman as his legal representative so we can argue about this openly," he said in a press conference.

Hendarman on Monday said settling matters in court was the only way to resolve the issue.

The AGO recently named Yusril a suspect in a graft case involving a government website.

Last week, Yusril refused to be questioned by Hendarman who he said was not a legal attorney general.

Hendarman was appointed through a decree issued by President Susilo Bambang Yudho-yono during his previous administration.

Yusril said Hendarman's tenure ended with Yudhoyono's first administration and no decree was issued to keep him in his post. - JP