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Irman Gusman's pretrial motion rejected by judge
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The man with the gavel – South Jakarta District Court’s sole presiding judge, I Wayan Karya (center). (Antara/Reno Esnir)
T
he South Jakarta District Court rejected on Wednesday the pretrial hearing motion filed by the legal team of former Regional Representatives Council (DPD) speaker Irman Gusman to challenge Gusman’s status as a suspect in a bribery case related to sugar import quotas.
The court’s sole presiding judge, I Wayan Karya, explained that his rejection of the motion was based on the fact that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had taken the case to the Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor) on Oct. 28.
Wayan further said that Irman’s status had officially been elevated to that of “defendant”.
“Considering the fact that the case has been taken to the Tipikor, the pretrial petition is therefore rejected,” he said.
Irman's lawyers conveyed their disappointment over the ruling, arguing that the decision was solely based on whether or not the dossier had been delivered to the court and did not take into account their objections.
“Although we respect the court’s decision, we don’t agree with the reason for the court’s rejection because the hearing has not yet even started,” said Tommy Singh, one of Irman’s lawyers.
Irman was arrested by KPK investigators on Sept. 16. He is accused of receiving Rp 100 million (US$7,654) in bribes to lobby the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) to increase sugar import quotas for CV Semesta Berjaya. (fac/ebf)
