The Corruption Court rejected former House of Representatives legislator Al Amin Nur Nasution's defense against charges of bribery on Friday and will continue with his trial.

The panel of judges said in its ruling the indictment against Al Amin met the requirements set under a 1981 Criminal Code law.

Al Amin is being charged with blackmail and accepting bribes during his tenure as a member of the House's Commission IV overseeing forestry issues in connection with the development of protected forests on Bintan Island in Riau and in Tanjung Pantai Air Telang in the South Sumatra regency of Banyuasin.

He also allegedly demanded Rp 1.48 billion (US$157,824) from companies to enter tenders for the Forestry Ministry's procurement of a global positioning system (GPS) called Geodetic, hand held GPS devices and Total Sanitation.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and Rp 1 billion in fines, according to the 2001 Anti-Corruption Law.

This month, the court convicted suspended Bintan administration secretary Azirwan and sentenced him to 30 months' imprisonment for paying bribes to Al Amin.

Al Amin's lawyers called the indictment vague and inaccurate, citing that it did not explain Al Amin's role in the issuance of forest conversion permits. The lawyers asked the panel of judges to drop the case.

Upon hearing the judges' ruling, Al Amin said he did not want to appeal. "I respect this legal process and I honor the judges' decision," he said.

The judges adjourned the trial session until Monday to hear witness testimonies.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) declared businessman Chandra Antonio Tan a new suspect in the case on Sept. 15, after a series of questionings.

Chandra allegedly paid Rp 2.5 billion in bribes in 2006 to several members of the House's Commission IV to ensure that the forest development permits could be administered.

Also named as suspects in the case are former head of Commission IV Yusuf Emir Faishal of the National Awakening Party and Sarjan Tahir of the Democratic Party.

The KPK has arrested six active House legislators for allegedly receiving bribes in connection with the case.

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