Samad backs death sentence for MK chief justice

JAKARTA. Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Abraham Samad said on Thursday he agreed the court should demand Constitutional Court (MK) Chief Justice Akil Mochtar be given capital punishment for allegedly accepting bribes.

Samad was responding to a statement from former MK chief justice Jimly Asshiddiqie, who said Akil should be given the harshest punishment as he was the head of the highest legal authority in the country.

“I agree with Jimly’s statement,” Samad told reporters via text message. “The law allows it, but with very strict special requirements. That’s why we need a breakthrough in the law.”

Akil Mochtar was arrested along with a Golkar Party politician Chairun Nisa, Gunung Mas Regent Hambit Bintih and two businessmen identified as CHN and DH over bribery charges on Wednesday night in a sting operation.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi SP said the investigators had also seized Rp 3 billion worth of Singapore dollars and US dollars from Akil’s house at the Widya Chandra housing complex in Kuningan, South Jakarta, as evidence.

Besides the confiscated money, KPK investigators also seized a white Toyota Fortuner used by Chairun when she visited Akil’s house, according to Johan.

As of Thursday afternoon, the KPK had not decided on the status of the five arrested individuals.