TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The South Jakarta District court appointed Judge Kusno to handle a pretrial hearing requested by e-KTP corruption case suspect Setya Novanto. The hearing will be held on Thursday, November 30.

“He is the deputy chief of the South Jakarta District Court,” Court’s spokesperson Made Sutrisna told Tempo on Wednesday, November 22.

After being named as a suspect for the second time by the Corruption Eradication Commission, Setya Novanto filed another pretrial motion with the Court. The judge of the first hearing ruled in favor of Setya and dismissed the suspect naming against him.

Read: Kalla: I Have Never Supported Setya Novanto at Golkar

Judge Kusno had led several pretrial hearings for KPK suspects. On Friday, November 10, Kusno denied the pretrial motion filed by Irfan Kurnia Saleh, a suspect of a graft case surrounding the procurement of Agusta Westland helicopters in the interior of the Indonesian Air Force in 2016-2017.

In late December 2009, Kusno led a pretrial hearing for the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) in relation to the decision of the termination of charges against former KPK leaders Chandra M. Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto. Both were accused of misusing their authorities.

In November 2009, the AGO officially ceased the investigation into the case. Although the requirements for the charges were fulfilled, the AGO reasoned that Chandra and Bibit performed their roles as mandated by the law.

Read: Setya Novanto's Fate to be Decided after Pretrial Motion

In preparation for the upcoming hearing, the KPK has not yet announced witnesses to be presented in the trial to justify Setya Novanto’s suspect naming. However, KPK legal bureau member Evi Laila Kholis expressed optimism with the appointment of Judge Kusno. Meanwhile, Setya Novanto’s lawyer declined to provide a comment about his client’s pretrial hearing.

FAJAR PEBRIANTO