TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Three pretrial hearings involving the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have been postponed. Two trials were adjourned on the absence of KPK representatives and the other postponed because KPK representatives failed to show a valid power of attorney. The three trials in the South Jakarta court finished in less than a half hour.
The pretrial motions were filed by graft suspects former Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali, former Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) chief-cum-former Finance Ministry’s director general Hadi Poernomo, and former PT Pertamina processing director Suroso Atmo Martoyo.
The KPK was only present in Suryadharma’s pretrial hearing. Judge Tati Hardianti postponed the trial because the KPK had not submitted a valid authorization letter to KPK’s Legal Buerau to defend the anti-graft agency against Surya.
“The trial is adjourned and will resume tomorrow,” said Tati on Monday. The trial only lasted for ten minutes and ended at 10.30 a.m.
KPK’s Legal Bureau member Nur Chusniah said the valid authorization letter had been submitted to the State Court in the morning before the trail began. “It has been submitted through the court clerk, but there was no registration,” said Nur.
The trial for Hadi Poernomo was adjourned by Judge B.J. Nasution because the KPK was not present. “The trial is adjourned and will resume in two weeks,” he said.
Madqir Ismail, Hadi’s lawyer, is worried that in those two weeks, the KPK will complete the case files and hand them over to the anti-corruption court.
Judge Suyadi also adjourned the trial for Suroso because the KPK was not present. Suyadi will continue Suroso’s trial next week. Regarding Hadi and Suroso’s trial, the KPK sent a notification letter stating their absence was because both trials were held simultaneously.
MUHAMAD RIZKI
