Top Indonesian judge seized in bribery probe after disputed election
Constitutional court chief allegedly accepted US$250,000 from lawmaker and businessman
Indonesian anti-corruption investigators have arrested the constitutional court's top judge for allegedly accepting a bribe of more than US$250,000 in a case linked to a disputed election.
It is the latest high-profile corruption case in one of the world's most graft-ridden countries, and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed shock in rare public comments on the issue.
"I can feel the anger and shock shared by the Indonesian people," he said.
Chief Justice Akil Mochtar was detained late on Wednesday at his Jakarta home shortly after a businessman and lawmaker allegedly handed him around three billion rupiah, said Corruption Eradication Commission spokesman Johan Budi.
"The bribery was allegedly linked to a disputed election in Gunung Mas district on Borneo island," said Budi. The poll was on September 4 and one of the constitutional court's main roles is to decide on electoral disputes.
The lawmaker, a member of the Golkar party of former dictator Suharto, and the businessman were also detained at Mochtar's house, he said.
The head of Gunung Mas district and another man were arrested at a Jakarta hotel soon afterwards, added Budi.