Kemas Yahya Suspended
Tuesday, 18 March, 2008 | 15:59 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Board of Directors' meeting of the Attorney General decided to replace deputy attorney general for special criminal actions, Kemas Yahya Rahman. It was decided also to exchange investigative director for special criminal actions, Muhammad Salim.

“The consideration is to maintain the credibility of the special criminal actions unit”, said Attorney General, Hendarman Supandji, to journalists yesterday. According to him, the meeting decided to replace the entire board of special criminal actions.

Hendarman explained two officials will be placed at the position that doesn’t touch society directly. The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) proposed a name to the President. At first level , the President's agreement is needed. “The name will be submitted to the President on Monday”, he said.

He explained that one of the reasons to replace Kemas is the media expose about bribery allegations to prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan by Artalyta Suryani, a business woman who has a close relationship with Sjamsul Nursalim, owner of Bank Dagang Nasional Indonesia (BDNI) – who has been investigated in the case of Bank Indonesia Liquidity (BLBI ). “It disturbs the reputation of the AGO as the investigator for corruption cases”, he said.

Urip is former head of the investigative team for the BLBI case. The Commission to Eradicate Corruption (KPK) arrested him when receiving money from Artalyta at Simprug in South Jakarta, on March 3. It happened two days after the AGO cancelled the investigation of BLBI.
The story about the friendship between Artalyta with the prosecutors, including Kemas, emerged with the media. To Tempo, Kemas admitted that he knew Artalyta, but he did not remember when he was introduced to Artalyta.

After it was exposed, legislators urged prosecutor Agung to replace Kemas and Salim. Attorney General Hendarman, then formed a team to investigate this bribery allegation internally. Kemas and Salim did not escape investigation and they were replaced.

Kemas said he can accept this decision. “I obey what my leader says,” he said. While Salim did not want to comment. “I don't want to respond,” he said to journalists.

So far, the AGO has not decided the status of these two officials, whether guilty or not. “We are still waiting for the investigation from KPK, whether it was truly bribery or not”, said Hendarman. “However, they do not deserve their positions any more”.

Deputy Attorney General Rahardjo, who is also head of the investigative team for the two suspected officials, said they had found indications for disciplinary violation. “We are waiting for the criminal investigation”, he said. “The AGO tried to examine Artalyta. She is the key to whether prosecutors are guilty or not”.

The AGO has been trying to call Artalyta. She refused to come to the AGO for an examination last Thursday.
Yesterday, the KPK continued to investigate Artalyta. She said she fulfilled KPK's request to clarify news about her. “My coming to KPK is only to give brief information to clarify what the news has been told,” she said.

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