November 05, 2009 21:58 PM

President Calls For Suspension Of Police, AGO Officers

JAKARTA, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked for the suspension of police and Attorney General's Office (AGO) officers whose names were mentioned in the wiretapped conversations that indicated a plot to frame leaders of the anti-graft body.

"I have told (the police chief and the Attorney-General) that names mentioned in the wiretapped conversations be relieved from their duties so that investigations can be conducted properly," the president said at a cabinet plenary session here on Thursday.

The president also asked the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs to provide protection for suspended Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy chiefs Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Hamzah, and the key witness in the bugged eavesdropping so that they could provide testimony with regard to the case.

"I call for protection of their safety. Protection of witnesses, or whoever, is important because our country is a law-abiding nation. There should be no irresponsible hands that would create a chaotic situation through irresponsible actions," Antara news agency quoted the President as saying.

Stressing that the truth remains true and the wrong remain wrong, he said, suspects who could not be proven guilty in court should be freed but if they were found guilty, they have to face legal sanctions.

Susilo said that enforcement of the law should not be twisted, the more so, if it concerned corruption.

"There must not be another interest in efforts to fight corruption," he added.

The president said the establishment of an independent team for verification of legal facts and the legal process of Chandra and Bibit was aimed at restoring public trust in the police and public prosecutors.

"It is not good if the public's suspicion and distrust is high, let alone if they continue to grow because it concerns the supremacy and enforcement of the law," he said.

Meanwhile, other reports said that two officers - Head of the National Police Criminal Investigation Department, Susno Duaji and Junior Attorney General, Abdul Hakim Ritonga - had tendered their resignation today.

Both were named in a series of wiretapped conversation which was reported to have indications of a plot to frame KPK's Bibit and Chandra.

According to Antara, the wiretapped conversation which was heard at a Constitutional Court session on Tuesday, suggested the existence of a plot to frame the KPK leaders and undermine the anti-graft body.

--BERNAMA

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