President Acts to Suspend Chief Judge in Alleged Bribery Case

Jakarta (Antara) - Constitutional Court chief justice Akil Mochtar has been suspended following his alleged involvement in a bribery incident. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed the decree ordering Mochtar's suspension on Saturday. "With the authority vested in me, I temporarily discharged Akil Mochtar as chief of the Constitutional Court in accordance with the existing regulation," he said at the presidential office here on Saturday. He made the announcement after meeting with heads of state institutions to discuss steps to salvage the reputation of the court. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Akil Mochtar as a suspect for allegedly receiving bribes linked to disputes over district head elections in Gunung Mas district in Central Kalimantan and Lebak district in Banten province in West Java. Along with Akil Mochtar, KPK also named Chairun Nisa, a parliamentary member from Golkar Party, as a suspect in connection with the Gunung Mas bribery case. "AM (Akil Mochtar) and CN (Chairun Nisa) are named as suspects for allegedly receiving bribes," KPK chief Abraham Samad said. The news of Akil Mochtar's arrest has shocked people in many quarters and the case has drawn much condemnation. Several other people have also been named as suspects in connection with the two bribery cases. (*)