Tomorrow I would sign a letter for their suspension if KPK gave them the status of defendants in criminal case today."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi has urged the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to speed up investigation of Banten Governor Atut Choisiyah and Gunung Mas District Head Hambit Bintih both mired in litigation.
Atut and Hambit are still officially active as governor and district head respectively although they have been arrested and named suspects in graft cases.
Both are facing separate charges of bribing former chief justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) Akil Mochtar.
Gamawan said he could not dismiss even suspend Atut and Hambit as civil servants.
He said he could suspend them if they are given the status of defendants in criminal case.
They could be dishonorably dismissed as civil servants by the president if they were found guilty by a court.
Currently Atut and Hambit are suspects in graft case , but officially they could still function as governor and district head respectively and could pass order from their detention cells.
Meanwhile, there have growing call for their dismissal and replacement.
"Tomorrow I would sign a letter for their suspension if KPK gave them the status of defendants in criminal case today," the minister said here on Monday.
Hambit is charged with bribing Akil to fix a Constitutional Court decision on a disputed election for a new district head in Gunung Mas, Central Kalimantan.
Atut is also facing a similar case in Lebak, Banten, in addition to corruption and money laundering charges.
The Banten regional legislative assembly has said the regional administration could not function effectively as long as Atut was not replaced.
The vice governor Rano Karno could not fully take over the authority as governor unless Atut is suspended or dismissed, a regional legislator said.
(Uu.H-ASG/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
