TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former Constitutional Court judge Patrialis Akbar has filed a motion to the panel of judges of the Corruption Court to put him under house arrest or city arrest. The motion was filed for health reasons.
Patrialis said that the motion was officially submitted in writing during yesterday’s trial session. Patrialis has been indicted over bribes in a judicial review of Law No. 41/2014.
He declined to divulge details about his illness when asked by the media after the trial session.
Patrialis’ defense lawyer Soesilo Ari Wibowo said that his client has cardiovascular disease and vasoconstriction. Patrialis has already suffered from the diseases before being put under KPK custody, he said.
Presiding judge Nawawi Pamolango allowed Patrialis to file the motion. "But we will make a stance. JPU [public prosecutors] may also respond if needed," he said.
Patrialis Akbar is charged with accepting bribes amounting to US$70,000, Rp4.04 million and being promised Rp2 billion by beef importer Basuki Hariman. The bribes were allegedly offered to sway Patrialis into making a favorable decision in the judicial review of Law No. 41/2014.
Following his arrest in a sting operation, Patrialis Akbar was officially detained by the KPK on January 27.
MAYA AYU PUSPITASARI