Chief Justice of Constitutional Court Detained by Anti-Corruption Authority

Jakarta Globe, October 3, 2013

Constitutional Court chief justice
Akil Mochtar

Constitutional Court chief justice Akil Mochtar was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) late on Wednesday in a graft crisis that further tarnishes Indonesia’s legal image.

“I called the secretary general of the [Constitutional Court], and he said he didn’t know. I told him to check,” Mahfud MD, Akil’s predecessor, told Kompas TV on Wednesday night. “Five minutes later, he called back and hysterically told me that Pak Akil Mochtar was arrested. I‘m shocked.”

Golkar Party lawmaker Chairun Nisa and three other men were also detained on Wednesday evening by the anti-corruption body.

“Yes, we arrested them,” a person at the KPK who declined to be identified had confirmed late on Wednesday.

The person said that all details would be disclosed later by the KPK.

It is understood that the alleged transaction took place at Akil’s house in the ministerial Widya Chandra housing complex in South Jakarta.

“Investigators found [in the house] an amount of money in Singapore dollars,” KPK spokesman Johan Budi told a press conference at the authority’s headquarters after midnight on Thursday. “For now we estimate that it totals between Rp 2 billion and Rp 3 billion.”

Johan said the alleged bribery was connected to a dispute surrounding an election for the district head of Gunung Mas in Central Kalimantan, the case of which is being handled by the Constitutional Court.

The KPK has arrested Gunung Mas district head Hambit Bintih and another person identified only as Dhani in a separate location.

Akil, 62, began serving as a Constitutional Court justice in 2008, before replacing Mahfud as its chief in April. Before the arrest, the Constitutional Court had a reputation as one of the country’s cleaner institutions, and was often critical of the presidency.

“The chief of the Constitutional Court is not a commander but merely a coordinator,” Akil said on his election to lead the court. “To give better access to justice, those seeking justice are allowed to come to the Constitutional Court even without an expensive lawyer. We will help.”

Akil Mochtar is seen on August 13, 2013 being inaugurated

to the Constitutional Court. (Photo courtesy of the State Palace)

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