HOUSE SPEAKER APPRECIATES RITONGA`S DECISION TO RESIGN

Jakarta, Nov 5 (ANTARA) - House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Marzuki Alie said he appreciated Deputy Attorney General Abdul Hakim Ritonga's decision to resign because it reflected a "gentleman's attitude."
"If he feels he is guilty and then decides to resign, it is a good decision," Marzuki Alie told the press at the House of Representatives building here on Thursday.

The name of Ritonga was mentioned in wiretapped conversations which indicated a plot to frame Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Hamzah.

The wiretapped conversations were replayed at a Constitutional Court (MK) session on Tuesday to show the existence of a plot to frame the KPK leaders and undermine the anti-graft body.

Alie said that any state official who was involved in the effort to criminalize the KPK had better resign so that the legal process could be carried out properly.

"The problem is that it is quite difficult to admit guilt," he added.

On the fact that a number of police investigators were also mentioned in the bugged conversations, Alie who is also secretary general of the Democratic Party, said if those who felt guilty resigned, they had taken a gentleman's decision.***