Lawmakers Doubt Competency of New Deputy Attorney General

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Members of the Law Commission within the House of Representatives (Commission III) have doubts about the competency of newly elected deputy attorney general Andhi Nirwanto in replacement of recently retired Darmono. During his time as a junior attorney general for special crimes, Andhi was considered to have stalled a number of corruption cases. 

"Once (the cases) reached him, many just disappeared," said lawmaker Nudirman Munir on Thursday. 

Last Tuesday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed his approval of Andhi Nirwanto’s new position as the nation’s deputy attorney general. On Thursday, attorney general Basrief Arief inaugurated Andhi as his number two. 

Nudirman, who is from the Golkar Party, also questioned the president’s approval of Andhi as the new deputy attorney general as Andhi never made any positive accomplishments during his time as the junior attorney general for special crimes. Nudirman also claimed to have discovered many criminal cases in a number of investigations on suspected corruption cases in regions during Andhi’s previous position. 

Lawmaker Nasir Djamil, from the Prosperity and Justice Party, also said he has an issue with the newly elected deputy attorney general. He said the council would question suspected corruption cases handled by Andhi during his time as a junior attorney general for special crimes. Nasir said the commission would soon summon Andhi during an opinion hearing at the law commission. During the meeting, Nasir said he hopes Andhi will be able to explain how he attempted to prevent corruption cases from disappearing into thin air in detail. 

AMRI MAHBUB | BERNADETTE CHRISTINA MUNTHE | REZA ADITYA | TRI SUHARMAN