The political dynasty of disgraced Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah suffered a major blow on Tuesday after the Home Ministry decided to suspend her from her post only hours after Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors opened their graft case against her.

To add insult to injury, angry protesters outside the Jakarta Corruption Court hurled invectives at Atut when she arrived at the court, sparking clashes between the protesters and her supporters.

Apparently unaware of the Home Ministry'€™s decision to dismiss her, Atut, wearing a flowing batik, black headscarf and showy black boots, looked relax as the KPK prosecutors read out an indictment accusing her of having masterminded a bribery scheme involving former Constitutional Court chief justice Akil Mochtar in 2013.

Atut, together with her brother Tubagus Chaeri '€œWawan'€ Wardana, who has also been charged in the case, stand accused of paying Akil Rp 1 billion (US$86,813) in exchange for a Constitutional Court ruling in a suit brought by Lebak deputy regent Amir Hamzah to overturn the victory of opposing ticket Iti Octavia Jayabaya-Ade Sumardi in the Lebak regency election.

The indictment of Atut, whose family members control five of Banten'€™s regencies and municipalities, details her role in the bribery scheme aimed at taking control of Lebak regency, which is currently held by the rival Jayabaya family.

'€œOn Sept. 23, 2013, Atut and Wawan met with Akil in Singapore. During the meeting, the defendant asked Akil to rule [in favor of Amir] in Lebak regency,'€ KPK prosecutor Edy Hartoyo told the court.

KPK prosecutors said that Atut had given Amir the go-ahead to file an election appeal at the Constitutional Court, although in Wawan'€™s trial last week, Atut denied the allegation, saying, '€œI had repeatedly recommended Amir not to file an appeal at the court, but he stubbornly did it anyway'€.

The indictment also revealed that Atut instructed Wawan to give Rp 1 billion to Akil via go-between Susi Tur Andayani, who has also been indicted in the case.

It also said Akil was disappointed when he learned Wawan could only pay him Rp 1 billion, not Rp 3 billion as he previously agreed with Susi, but she convinced Akil that the rest of the money would come after the ruling was issued.

The Akil-led court ruled on Oct. 2, 2013, that a revote should take place in Lebak. Susi and Wawan were arrested by the KPK on the same day, before handing the money to Akil.

One month later, the KPK arrested Atut for her role in the Lebak election dispute case.

Later on Tuesday, Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi responded to the opening of Atut'€™s trial by signing a letter recommending President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono suspend Atut from her post as governor.

'€œToday, I signed an official letter of recommendation to suspend Ratu Atut from her post. The letter has been sent to the President for approval. We hope that we will hear soon from the President,'€ Gamawan told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

After the court recessed, Atut was led to a van to take her back to the Pondok Bambu detention center. She was met by demonstrators outside the court calling themselves the '€œSave Banten Revolutionary Front'€, who chanted, '€œThief, thief, thief!'€ to Atut.

The demonstrators then threw water bottles at the van transferring Atut back to the detention center.

Afterward, Atut'€™s family members and supporters arrived at the court and attacked the supporters. The police broke up the scuffle and dispersed both camps.

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