REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named one of the judge of the Constitutional Court (MK), Patrialis Akbar, as suspect in the alleged acceptance of bribes related to the judicial review of the Law 41 in 2014 on the livestock and health. Beside that, KPK also named three others as suspect known with their initials, KN, BHR and NJF.
Patrialis allegedly received 20 thousand dollars (about Rp267.192 million) and 200 thousand Singapore dollars (about Rp1.879 billion). The total amout was Rp2.146 billion. "We have secured the company's financial record, the foreign currency purchase vouchers and the draft decision of the case," KPK's leader, Bansaria Panjaitan, said in a press conference on Thursday.
Earlier, KPK confirmed for conducting an operation (OTT) in law enforcement agencies in Jakarta. "There are a number of parties caught in a law enforcement agency. Further progress would be reported today," said the Chairman of the commission, Agus Rahardjo, through a short message service (SMS) on Thursday.
Responding the information, the Chairman of the Constitutional Court (MK), Arief Hidayat, said he had not yet confirmed the information. However, he apologized for it. He said he was aware that the arrest of judges tarnish the name of the institution.
"I ask forgiveness from Allah, I apologize to the nation, as the MK has made a mistake again, although this is personal, so that this institution was tarnished again," said Arief in the Court Building, Medan Merdeka Barat Street, Central Jakarta, Thursday.
He said he regret for his failure to keep the MK as well as possible. He would immediately held a Consultative Meeting of Justices (RPH) with other constitutional judges. Arief was reluctant to answer whether the RPH would be attended by the nine judges.
"After the RPH I would meet you all, because I could not do anything by myself. What I do should have permission from the other judges," he said.
Republika reported from the Court House that some judges began to come to the court, including the First Judge I Gede Palguna and the Deputy Chief of MK, Anwar Usman.
Previously, an information was spread among the members of the media that a judge of the Constitutional Court (MK), Patrialis Akbar, was caught during an OTT in a hotel in Tamansari, West Jakarta. The Chairman of the KPK, Agus Rahardjo, did not denied the information.
"It was true. There was an operation by KPK in Jakarta. There were a number of parties caught this time, associated with law enforcement agencies," said Agus.