Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – Todung Mulya Lubis, a member of the presidential fact-finding team that investigated the alleged framing of two Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputies, said Thursday it was best that the pair stand trial to settle the case.
Todung was responding to the South Jakarta District Court order for the Attorney General's Office (AGO) to continue its indictment against KPK deputies Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra M. Hamzah. The court also ordered a trial for both.
The ruling was in favor of plaintiff businessman Anggodo Widjojo, the brother of graft fugitive Anggoro Widjojo. Anggodo had allegedly plotted to frame Bibit and Chandra, and subsequently filed a pre-trial lawsuit against the AGO's decision to drop the prosecution of the pair.
The AGO had suspended its prosecution following recommendations made by the fact-finding team and the President himself last year, amid mounting public pressure to release Bibit and Chandra. The alleged plot against them was widely regarded as an attempt to weaken the KPK.
"[It's better] to bring Bibit and Chandra to court to dismiss developing controversy among the public and clear up the impression that they're afraid to appear in court," Todung said.
"The AGO can perhaps stop its prosecution for the public's sake, but this would make AGO seem like an unreliable institution. [Whereas] the court could serve as a forum to prove that all the previous investigations were biased and baseless," he said.
Todung said another option was that the President used his abolition right, but added that this would be unlikely because of the protracted process.
Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes Marwan Effendy said the AGO had submitted an appeal to the South Jakarta Distric Court over its pre-trial verdict (to continue with the trial), saying it was "inappropriate" and that the judge had failed to understand the circumstances under which the AGO had issued the letter to cease the indictment.
He said the letter was issued "for the sake of the national interest". "It was situational. We had to do it quickly... It was the best option," Marwan said.
He also questioned Anggodo's move, saying he had no legal grounds to file a pre-trial lawsuit against the AGO.
The Judicial Mafia Taskforce, which was set up by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in January, as part of its follow-up to recommendations made by the fact-finding team, also said earlier this week it had reported the judge handling Anggodo's pre-trial lawsuit, Nugroho Setiaji, to the Judicial Commission.
Taskforce member Mas Achmad Santosa said it was strange that the court had accepted Anggodo's request.
Marwan said since the AGO had filed an appeal to challenge the court verdict and consequently Bibit's and Chandra's status as suspects would be postponed, pending the decision.
Separately, KPK spokesman Johan Budi said the KPK was prepared for a "worst-case scenario". "We have prepared ourselves to have two leaders left. The KPK believes efforts to eradicate corruption will not stop," Johan said. (rdf/ipa)