Camelia Pasandaran – Constitutional Court Chief Justice Mahfud M.D. attempted to distance himself on Tuesday from the controversy surrounding the appointment of a replacement justice.

Mahfud said neither President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono nor himself were involved in the selection of the new justice.

"Up until now, I do not know the names," Mahfud told journalists after a meeting with Yudhoyono. "I heard it slightly, but I never remember who the candidates are and I prefer not to know."

There has been criticism of the lack of transparency involved in the selection process to replace Arsyad Sanusi, who resigned in the wake of a bribery case involving a family member.

Some organizations have asked the court to withdraw the names of the two candidates and begin the process over.

The Supreme Court – perceived to be one of Indonesia's most corrupt institutions – one of its senior officials, Anwar Usman, and Irfan Fachruddin, a judge sitting on the Jakarta Administrative Court, as candidates. Mahfud said the new justice would be named soon.