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Indonesia to drop corruption case
State prosecutor drops controversial legal case against two anti-graft officials.
Last Modified: 01 Dec 2009 05:00 GMT
Bibit Samad Riyanto, right, and Chandra Hamzah, left, said the case was fabricated [Reuters]

Indonesia's state prosecutor is to drop a controversial legal case against two anti-corruption officials that has triggered nationwide anger.

Chandra Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto, two deputies at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had been accused of bribery.

 

However, they say they the case was fabricated and that they were wrongfully dismissed from their jobs.

An independent investigation last month found police had insufficient evidence against them and that officials in the police and attorney-general's office had tried to frame the two.

Last month secret wiretap recordings were played in court of police, prosecutors and the brother of a corruption suspect allegedly discussing ways that false charges could be brought against the two men.

The case has highlighted a bitter power struggle between the respected KPK, which has been at the forefront of the fight against corruption, and the police and attorney-general's office.

Marwan Effendy, Indonesia's deputy attorney general for special crimes, said that state prosecutors would issue letters on Tuesday to stop the case.

He said the move was intended "to maintain harmony among the various legal institutions, the KPK, the attorney-general's office, and the police, in order to eradicate corruption."

 

Source:
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