PRESIDENT TO SIGN ANTASARI'S LETTER OF DISCHARGE SOON

Jakarta, Oct 9 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will soon sign a presidential decision on the permanent discharge of Antasari Azhar as chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), a presidential aide said.

Presidential adviser on legal affairs Denny Indrayana said here on Friday, the presidential decision on Azhar's discharge was now being drafted.

"The presidential decision is now being drafted and the president will soon sign it," he said.

He could not however reveal when the decision would be signed by the president.

"I cannot disclose when the exact date for the signing of the letter but what is sure is that the president will sign it as soon as the draft is finished," he said.

The president on Thursday received a letter of notification on the status of Antasari Azhar from the Attorney General's Office.

Indrayana said the letter of notification was sent to the president on the day Azhar began to be tried on murder charges at the South Jakarta district court on Thursday.

Anatasari Azahar was arraigned in the court as a defendant in the murder of Nasrudin Zulkarnaen, a director of PT Rajawali Putra Banjaran.

Based on the notification letter the president will issue a letter of discharge for Antasari Azhar from his position as the chairman of the KPK.

Law No. 30 / 2002 on KPK stipulates that a KPK leader who has become a suspect in a criminal offense must be suspended , and one who has become a defendant in a court of law, discharged.