MK CHIEF: POLICE WRONG IN NAMING TWO KPK LEADERS SUSPECTS

Jakarta, Sept 22 (ANTARA) - Constitutional Court (MK) Chairman Mahfud MD said the police's decision to name two KPK leaders in a power abuse case was wrong.

"The decision to name Bibit and Chandra suspects was wrong," he told ANTARA through a text message here on Tuesday.

The police recently named KPK vice chairmen Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Hamzah suspects for allegedly abusing their power in connection with the issuance of a travel ban for PT Masaro company director Anggoro Widjojo and PT Era Giat Prima owner Djoko Tjandra.

In connection with the issuance of the government regulation in lieu of law (Perpu) to change Law number 30 of 2002 on KPK early on Tuesday, Mahfud said that if Bibit and Chandra were released after the issuance of the Perppu that would be good because "they could immediately resume their task and replace the acting officials. Which one isn't logical."
On the other hand, he said, if the police insisted on keeping them suspects and then no Perppu was issued it was not impossible that the KPK would stop functioning.

"I said the Perppu was valid but I would also say that the decision to name Bibit and Chandra suspects was wrong," he said.

Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi had said earlier the government was still preparing a draft presidential decree to name KPK acting officials following the issuance of Perppu on Tuesday.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed the Perppu on Tuesday morning, saying that the decision was important with regard to assure the KPK's effective function.***