"AM (Akil Mochtar) still denies it. It is just logical for a suspect to use his right to deny, something which is not unusual," KPK Deputy Chairman Bambang Widjojanto said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Constitutional Court Chairman Akil Mochtar continues to deny having accepted bribes, though the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named him as a suspect in bribery cases involving elections of regional heads, a KPK deputy said.

"AM (Akil Mochtar) still denies it. It is just logical for a suspect to use his right to deny, something which is not unusual," KPK Deputy Chairman Bambang Widjojanto said here on Thursday.

Akil Mochtar has been arrested and named as a suspect in an alleged bribery case involving the elections for the regional head of Gunung Mas District in Central Kalimantan and Lebak District in Banten provinces.

Bambang said that even though Akil denied having received bribes, this would not hamper the investigation process because the KPK has cooperated with the Constitutional Court (MK) to carry out other efforts, such as searches, confiscation and the imposition of a travel ban on suspects. This cooperation will support efforts to develop the bribery case.

"Until now, all suspicions remain focused on AM. The investigation is still concentrating on AM, and not yet on others. The KPK will focus on what it has done, but will continue to develop it," Bambang said.

KPK investigators searched the office of AM on the 15th floor of the MK building at 5 pm on Thursday. It has also sealed AM's house and official car.

The KPK arrested AM, the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK), who was caught accepting an alleged bribe in a legal case concerning regional head elections in Central Kalimantan and Banten.

"Investigators caught red-handed several people known for their initials as AM, CHN and CN at Widya Chandra housing complex," KPK spokesman Johan Budi told the press here on Thursday.

CHN is a legislator and CN is a businessman, he added.

"At the official residence of AM in Widya Chandra Housing Komplex, the investigators seized Rp2 billion to Rp3 billion Singaporean dollars. The money was believed to have been offered by CHN and CN to AM, allegedly in connection with the regional head elections in Gunung Mas District, Central Kalimantan.

KPK also arrested two other people with the initials HB, a regional government official, and DH, a businessmen, in a hotel located in Central Jakarta.

The suspects are now being detained for questioning for 24 hours, Budi said.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he was shocked and deeply concerned upon hearing of the arrest of Akil Mochtar by the KPK on Wednesday night.

"We are all shocked to hear about the arrest of the constitutional court`s chief justice, along with a legislator, a district head and two others by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) last night," he said during a Thursday press conference held to address the arrests.

The President stated that he was especially concerned because the arrests involved the leader of a state institution, who plays a very important role and is a figure of authority in the nation and state.

"I can feel the anger and shock of the Indonesian people upon learning what happened last night. This morning I communicated with a number of officials, after receiving reports about it from the minister/state secretary. KPK informed me, as the head of state, about the legal action it had taken against the state institution`s chief, he noted.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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