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AKARTA: The attorney representing business tycoon Siti Hartati Murdaya says he wants the Jakarta Corruption Court to dismiss all charges against his client in the Buol regent bribe scandal.

Speaking to reporters in Jakarta on Monday, Dodi Abdulkadir said that there was no evidence to back prosecutors’ claims that Hartati paid Rp 3 billion (US$312,000) to Buol Regent Amran Batalipu to expedite issuance of a permit for her oil palm plantation company in the Central Sulawesi regency.

Dodi said that Hartati’s company PT Hardaya Inti Plantation (HIP) did not require a new license as the licenses it was issued in 1994 remained valid.

“Bu Hartati’s oil palm plantations acquired all their licenses in 1994 and those licenses are still valid. There was no need for her to seek new permits. Therefore, she had no motive to bribe an official,” Dodi said as quoted by Antara news wire.

Amran maintained his innocence when he read his defense statement, saying that he created several programs to helped the poor as regent, including a free education program.