Jakarta – In a confusing ruling that has stumped many, Indonesia's Constitutional Court has ruled that Hendarman Supandji is now no longer the country's attorney general.

Constitutional Court Chief Justice Mahfud MD ruled on Wednesday that the attorney general's term should end along with the terms of the president and his or her cabinet.

The ruling was issued in relation to a challenge to Hendarman's authority by former Justice Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who was charged in June by the AGO in a graft scandal involving a business registration Web site run by the ministry while he was in charge.

Yusril has denied the allegations and responded by calling into question Hendarman's authority, claiming he was never officially sworn in as the country's top attorney.

Outside the court, Mahfud said that as of 2:25 p.m. Hendarman was no longer legally the attorney general but added that any decisions made before that time – including the decision to charge Yusril – stood.

In response to the verdict, Denny Indrayana, a presidential adviser for legal affairs, said that because Mahfud's additional comments were not stated in the ruling, it meant that Hendarman's position was therefore legal and that his term expired in 2014 along with that of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his cabinet.

Hendarman is expected to hold a news conference this evening to announce he is resigning, a decision likely to please antigraft activists.

The AGO is perceived to be one of Indonesia's most corrupt institutions, an enemy of reform and a major barrier to attracting badly needed direct foreign investment.