Jakarta – Untung Udji Santoso was removed from his position as deputy attorney general for state administration on Thursday for his alleged role in a major bribery case that has gripped the country.
He is the third top prosecutor to be dismissed in connection with the unfolding scandal involving another senior prosecutor, Urip Tri Gunawan, and businesswoman Artalyta Suryani.
Attorney General Hendarman Supandji said Untung was removed to "maintain the credibility" of the Attorney General's Office (AGO), which has taken a battering at the hands of critics.
"What is really important in this problem is to protect the credibility of the office. That's why I must relieve Untung of his duties, because the public is questioning his credibility and his possible involvement in the bribery case," he said at a news conference.
Hendarman said he had a short list of three candidates to replace Untung. "I have summoned the candidates to meet with me on Friday. Of the three, one is very promising. But I need to have their commitment in upholding justice before I can recommend them to the President. I cannot mention who they are at this point," he said.
Hendarman said he dismissed Untung in response to the results of an internal investigation following the discovery of several taped phone conversations between Artalyta and senior AGO officials.
Kemas Yahya Rahman, deputy attorney general for special crimes, and Muhammad Salim, AGO director of investigations, were also dismissed from their posts.
The prosecutors have been accused of involvement in the bribery case in which Urip was caught by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) receiving US$660,000 and Rp 100 million (US$10,810) in cash from Artalyta.
The latter is suspected of being a close business acquaintance of Sjamsul Nursalim, one of the country's richest men. Sjamsul was a suspect in the embezzlement of US$3 billion in emergency bailout loans to his bank during the Asian financial crisis in 1998. The AGO abruptly ceased investigating him two days before Urip and Artalyta were arrested.
Untung's alleged involvement in the case emerged after a taped conversation, suggesting a possible connection between him and Artalyta, was played during Artalyta's trial at the Corruption Court.
The case has prompted the AGO to open an internal probe into 15 prosecutors, including Untung, Salim, Kemas and Wisnu Subroto, deputy attorney general for intelligence.
M.S. Rahardjo, deputy attorney general for internal affairs, said the three-day internal investigation, carried out last week, had failed to unearth evidence of violations by the prosecutors, or evidence of their possible involvement in the bribery case.
"To complete the investigation, we have to wait for the verdicts from the trials of Urip and Artalyta, and for court permission to question Artalyta," he said. The Corruption Court has yet to respond to Rahardjo's request, filed last Friday.
In response to his dismissal, Untung said he was willing to accept any decision from the attorney general.
"I will accept all decisions with my heart and soul, although I have no connection whatsoever with the case. It was someone else's mistake, but I have to face the punishment. Do you see any fairness in that?" he said.
"The fact is Urip accepted a bribe from Artalyta and got caught by the KPK. I was outside this game. However, will anyone buy my statement now?" (nkn)