Bibit silent on Supreme Court decision

Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy chairman Bibit Samad Rianto said Monday he had no comment on the recent Supreme Court decision on the criminal case against him and fellow deputy chair Chandra M. Hamzah.

The court overturned an appeal to stop legal proceedings against the KPK leaders, making it likely that the pair will stand trial on criminal charges.

The Attorney General's Office (AGO) asked the Supreme Court to review the South Jakarta District Court’s and Jakarta High Court’s decisions to overturn the AGO motion to cease prosecution of Bibit and Chandra.

"I have no authority to comment or to offer any opinions because it’s the duty of the AGO to do so," Bibit told reporters at a press conference at his office.

Bibit added that the case filed against him and Chandra was based on Anggodo Widjojo's false accusations. Anggodo was sentenced to four years in jail after the court found him guilty of obstructing a KPK investigation and attempting to bribe KPK officials.

"I did not do that. The case was fabricated," he said.

The AGO had dropped bribery and abuse of power charges leveled at the pair. Anggodo then contested the move in court, insisting that Bibit and Chandra received bribes from him.

The Jakarta High Court had ruled that suspension of the case by prosecutors was illegal, but the leaders defied the ruling.

The court’s verdict should have been enough to send Bibit and Chandra to jail until their trial, but the pair were quick to find legal measures to keep them from prison for the second time.

The AGO challenged the court ruling by demanding a case review, which many consider a bad precedent for law enforcement in the country. (lnd)