Dicky Christanto, Jakarta – Antigraft activists Emerson Yuntho and Ilian Deta Sari have been summoned for questioning by police in a libel case filed by the Attorney General's Office (AGO) earlier this year.

The two, from Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), will be questioned as suspects after raising suspicions about the AGO's management of funds. "There's a big question mark hanging over the true motive behind the summons," Emerson told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

He added he was surprised by the move on the part of the police. "After months of no progress in the investigation, all of a sudden I'm being called in for questioning as a suspect," he said, adding he was currently drafting a media package to back up his claims against the AGO.

"I wasn't just talking bull," Emerson said. "I have the necessary data to support my suspicions about the AGO's fund management."

The case stemmed from an article published in the Rakyat Merdeka daily on Jan. 5 this year, in which Emerson and Ilian questioned the AGO's management of Rp 7 trillion recovered from graft cases. In response, AGO prosecutor Widoyoko reported the article to the police for defamation, but no action was taken at the time.

"You've got to question the timing of the summons, because it comes just as the witch hunt for antigraft activists mounts," said ICW's Febri Diansyah, as quoted by detik.com.

ICW is one of the most vociferous supporters of the embattled Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The chairman of the latter is on trial for murder, while two of his deputies face bribery charges.

The National Police's deputy chief of detectives, Insp. Gen. Dikdik Mulyana Arif, declined to comment on the case against Emerson and Ilian. "I have to check with the investigators first before making any comment on this matter," he said.

Police have also issued a summons for a Rakyat Merdeka journalist to appear for questioning.