"While awaiting the development, we have taken steps to form an honorary council to investigate this case," said constitutional court justice Hamdan Zoelva.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Constitutional Court (MK) will soon set up an honorary council to probe its chairman, who has been accused of taking a bribe.
"While awaiting the development, we have taken steps to form an honorary council to investigate this case," said constitutional court justice Hamdan Zoelva in a press conference at the MK building on Thursday.
The council will comprise a constitutional court justice, a judicial commission leader, a former leader of the state institute, and a senior law professor, added Hamdan.
"We are still trying to contact competent people in the honorary council. The honorary council will be established soon," he said.
The honorary council will not disrupt the investigation of the alleged graft case by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) because it will focus on the judges` code of ethics, he said.
Hamdan added that the council may issue a decision, acquitting the suspect of graft charges - a warning, a stern warning, or a disgraceful discharge from the constitutional court.
On Wednesday night, KPK arrested the chairman of MK, identified by his initials as AM, at his house, for allegedly taking a bribe from a lawmaker and a businessman in connection with a dispute over the election of the head of Gunung Mas district in Central Kalimantan.
Later that night, KPK also arrested two accomplices at a hotel in Central Jakarta.
KPK is conducting an investigation to find out if the five people had been involved in a graft case.
"The honorary council has nothing to do with AM`s legal process. AM has not been suspended. We are still awaiting the development," Hamdan said.
Following the arrest, KPK investigators sealed the working room of the MK chairman at the MK building.
Hamdan said he was unsure as to whether the KPK investigators had confiscated documents belonging to AM. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
