Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono must fire all top prosecutors at the Attorney General's Office (AGO) and let the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigate bribery allegations against them, experts say.
A recording of a telephone conversation heard during the trial of businesswoman Artalyta Suryani at the Corruption Court was a strong indication they have received bribes, noted legal expert Frans H. Winarta said here Monday.
"Not only must the President fire all attorney general deputies implicated in the case, he must also order a full investigation based on the strong evidence that the prosecutors have received bribes."
He said a criminal investigation of the prosecutors would deter other officials from receiving money from criminal suspects.
The fact that former deputy attorney general for special crimes Kemas Yahya Rahman, deputy attorney general for state administration Untung Udji Santoso and deputy attorney general for intelligence Wisnu Subroto had all tried to arrest Artalyta before the KPK showed they were attempting to prevent her from being tried by the corruption court, Frans said.
"Why were they so enthusiastic about arresting Artalyta when the KPK was handling the case? Many said they just wanted to protect the woman," he said.
There were very strong indications of the prosecutors receiving bribes from Artalyta, Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University legal expert Denny Indrayana said. Denny said, "if they are investigated then it will be clear whether they are guilty or not".
The Corruption Court heard taped "friendly" conversations between Artalyta and Kemas, and Untung. The recordings were used by the KPK as evidence against Artalyta, who has been charged with bribing prosecutor Urip.
Urip had led an investigation of tycoon Sjamsul Nursalim, the former director of Bank Dagang Nasional Indonesia, over the embezzlement of Bank Indonesia liquidity support (BLBI) funds. Artalyta reportedly had a connection with Sjamsul, who was charged with misusing Rp 28.4 trillion (US$3 billion) worth of BLBI funds.
Urip – who was alleged to have taken US$660,000 and Rp 100 million in suspected bribes from Artalyta – was arrested just two days after the AGO dropped the BLBI case against Sjamsul and another tycoon Anthony Salim on Feb. 29, 2008.
Legal expert Iskandar Sonhaji said Attorney General Hendarman Supandji must take legal action against prosecutors linked with BLBI cases, and reopen the cases to regain public trust.
"With the recent progress in the BLBI cases, the attorney general must realize his decision to drop the investigations was wrong," he said.
Anti-graft activist Ismed Hassan Putro, however, urged the president to freeze the AGO and form an ad hoc team to select the new figures for top prosecutor positions to investigate the BLBI cases.
"I think Hendarman should learn a lesson from Japanese officials. I wouldn't recommend he jumps off the top floor... but he should be ready to resign," he told a seminar at the House of Representatives on Monday.
AGO spokesman BD Nainggolan said the office's internal affairs team investigating ethical violations by prosecutors would question Artalyta on Tuesday, before making a decision on the case.
However, AGO deputy attorney general for internal supervision, M.S. Raharjo, said he had yet to receive a written permit from the Corruption Court to question Artalyta. (alf)