"We have sent an official letter to police about the position of Yulianis that she is protected by the law."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A member of the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) Lili Pintauli said she regrets police`s pursuing libel case filed by Edhie Baskoro, a son of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono against Yulianis, a former executive of a company the Permai Group.

"In line with a police circular on No. B/345/III/2005/Bareskrim on March 7, 2005, police would give priority to handling corruption case over reports of defamation," Lili said here on Wednesday.

She said the police`s decision to pursue the report filed by Edhie, better known as Ibas, against Yulianis, who is under protection of the agency, could serve as a bad precedence in the law enforcement especially in dealing with corruption.

Yulianis, former deputy finance director of the Permai Group, earlier testified in a court, that Ibas was recorded in a list of bribe recipients in a high profile Hambalang sport project corruption case.

The Permai Group is a company owned Muhammad Nazaruddin, former treasurer of the ruling Democratic Party, now serving jail term for corruption.

Ibas, who according to the list had received a bribe of US$200 million, strongly denied the allegation and filed the report against Yulianis saying he did not even know and never met with Yulianis.

Lili said people would be afraid to testify at court and give information risking being charged with defamation.

She said Yulianis in giving the information in court and to legal investigators is protected by law on protection for witnesses or testifiers.

She said the police officers receiving the report filed by Ibas might not be aware of the law on protection for witnesses and victims in a case.

She said, however, that police are already informed that Yulianis is under the protection of the LPSK .

"We have sent an official letter to police about the position of Yulianis that she is protected by the law," she said.

Ibas, who is also the secretary general of the ruling Democratic Party, was summoned by police on Monday for questioning about the libel case.

"I come to honor the police`s summon to give information about the libel," Ibas said on Monday.

He said he hoped police would process the report to clear his name.
(Uu.H-ASG/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2013