AG submits names of Kemas`s replacement to president

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Attorney General Hendarman Supandji on Monday submitted the names of three candidates for the post of junior attorney general for special crimes to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for consideration.

"I submitted the names of the three candidates to Pak Sudi (Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi) today," Supandji said on the sidelines of a meeting between the Ministry of Political, Legal and Security Affairs and the House of Representatives` Commission I for foreign and defense affairs here.

The candidates who would replace Kemas Yahya Rahman were all from
the Attorney General`s Office (AGO), he said.

But he stopped short of naming the candidates. "We still keep the names secret," he said.

The attorney general said Kemas was not discharged but replaced.

Supandji earlier said Kemas Yahya Rahman and Muhammad Salim would be replaced as part of efforts to improve the credibility of the AGO`s special crimes unit which had come into the public spotlight following the arrest of prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan on suspicion of receiving a bribe of US$660,000.

Muhammad Salim was discharged from his post as investigation director at the office of the junior attorney general for special crimes on Monday (March 17). He was later appointed a member of the attorney general`s expert staff.

Chief of the AGO`s Legal Information Center BD Nainggolan said recently Supandji had appointed Deputy Head of the Bengkulu Provincial Prosecutor`s Office Mohammad Farella as Salim`s successor.

"M Farella`s appointment was based on the Attorney General`s letter No. KEP-021/A/JA/03/2008 dated March 19, 2008," Nainggolan said.

"So, it is not true he (Salim) has no job. He holds the post of echelon-II A official," he said. (*) end