Constitutional Court's Honorary Council to Meet Akil Mochtar

Jakarta (Antara) - Chairman of the Constitutional Court's Honorary Council, J Harjono, said he will meet suspended Chief of Constitutional Court Akil Mochtar next Friday (Oct 25) as part of an internal investigation into charges against Akil. Akil Mochtar was arrested by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) officers earlier this month after receiving bribes worth about US$206,000 from an entrepreneur and a politician from Golkar Party with the initials CN. Since then, Akil has been suspended from Golkar party. "Tomorrow, myself and three colleagues from the Honorary Council will come to KPK's building to question Akil. We will announce a final decision about his position next week," he said. Akil's bribery case is thought to be linked to the regional election in Gunung Mas District, Central Kalimantan Province. Akil is also suspected of having received bribes in connection with the regional election in the Lebak district of the Banten province. Akil is said to have received bribe money from Tubagus Chaeri Wardhana---the half brother of Banten Province's current governor, Ratu Atut. Wardhana, who is now in police custody, is said to have bribed Akil Mochtar in exchange for his decision to grant an appeal made by Amir Hamzah from the Golkar party, one of the candidates vying for the post of the Lebak district chief, to schedule another regional election in the Lebak district. (*)