SBY Set Team to Verify The Case of Bibit and Chandra

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has decided to set up an independent team to verify legal facts on the case of detained Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputies Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra M Hamzah. Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto told a press conference here on Monday that the president would soon issue a presidential decree on the establishment of the independent team.

The independent team will be composed of eight persons to be chaired by Presidential Advisory Council member Adnan Buyung Nasution with deputy Koesparmono Irsan (former member of the Natiohnal Human Rights Commission), secretary Denny Indrayana (Presidential special staff for legal affairs) and five team members.

The five team members are Amir Syamsuddin, prof. of University of Indonesia’s school of law )FHUI), Todung Mulya Lubis ( legal practitioner), Anies Baswedan (rector of Paramadina University), Hikmahanto Juwana (prof. of FHUI), and Komaruddin Hidayat (rector of the Jakarta State Islamic University (UIN).

Djoko Suyanto said that the team could work in less than two weeks but seeing the dynamics developing with society in response to the Bibit-Chandra case, the team was expected to work quicker. "We are going to do clarification work and check all facts and the process of the case which befell Bibit and Chandra."

He said that the decision to form an independent team was made by the president after meeting with prominent figures on Nov.1 at the State Guest House. Before the press conference was held all the team members were present, except Komarudin Hidayat, were received by the president for about ten minutes.

"The president said that the present developments of the case was not good for the nation’s life because of mistrust and distrust towards not only our law but also to the credibilities of police, prosecutors and the KPK itself," Djoko Suyanto said.