Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The prosecutors of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) promised to bring in witnesses to testify at the trial of the beef import case.

Ahmad Zaki, a personal assistant of former President of the Islamic Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq, and Achmad Rozi, a lawyer of Ahmad Fathanah, were to testify at the trial on Wednesday of suspects Juard Effendi and Arya Abdi Effendi.

Luthfi and Fathanah, who is Luthfi`s close aide are primary suspects in the case. Both are now in KPK custody

Juard Effendi and Arya Abdi Effendi are businessmen charged with attempting to bribe Luthfi in the beef import scandal

"Ahmad Zaki and Rozi have been summoned several times but they failed to appear although they promised to come," prosecutor Moch Rum said here on Wednesday.

The two were already summoned to testify at a trial on May 17 and May 22 Rum said.

The presiding judge Purwono Edi Santoso gave time until Thursday for the prosecutor to bring in the two witnesses to testify in trial scheduled for that day.

Moh Rum said he would use force if necessary to bring in the two witnesses to the court on Thursday.

There are two other witnesses to testify in the trials of the same case including Ridwan Hakim, son of the chairman of the advisory council of PKS Hilmi Aminuddin and PKS secretary general Muhammad Taufik Ridho.

KPK has also questioned Hilmi several times on charge of receiving bribe money from Fatanah.

KPK said it holds list of recipients of ill gotten money from Fatanah, who was said to have distributed tens of billions of rupiahs including to more than 40 women.

(H-ASG/O001)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2013