Jakarta – Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly confirmed on Sunday that deputy law minister Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej had been dismissed from his post after he was named a suspect in a bribery case.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has accused Edward of receiving bribes relating to an ownership dispute in PT Citra Lampia Mandiri (CLM), a nickel-mining company operating in East Luwu, South Sulawesi. Edward's assistant Yogi Arie Rukmana, lawyer Yosi Andika Mulyadi and CLM director Helmut Hermawan are all named suspects in the case.
"[Edward] has been dismissed by the President. We shall leave it to the President [to appoint Edward's replacement]," said Yasonna as quoted by CNN Indonesia.
According to the KPK, Edward, through Yogi and Yosi, received Rp 8 billion (US$512,422) from Helmut for "legal consultation" in the company's legal administration case and an investigation termination warrant (SP3) for Helmut's legal case from the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim).
Edward sent his resignation letter to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Wednesday last week after filing a pretrial motion against the KPK at the South Jakarta District Court for naming him a suspect in the bribery case.
The court's public relations officer, Djuyamto, said Judge Estiono would examine Edward's pretrial motion on Dec. 11.
Deputy KPK chairman Alexander Marwata likened Edward's role in the case to that of legal mafia, capable of procuring vital documents for Helmut, such as the SP3 from Bareskrim.
According to Alex, such an occurrence is possible so long as everyone involved in the case has the financial wherewithal to access otherwise hard-to-procure vital documents, despite not having the authority to issue the SP3.
"This is what we call legal mafia activities. It is not just people with authority who can call the shots because people outside the institutions can also do that. As long as everyone can pay a price and reach a mutual agreement, that is how the crime happens," said Alex on Friday.