MA FINDS NO INDICATION OF BRIBERY IN GAYUS'S ACQUITTAL

Jakarta, March 30 (ANTARA) - The Supreme Court (MA) said it had found no indications of bribery behind tax official Gayus Tambunan's acquittal by the Tangerang district court recently.

"Our conclusion is that there were no indications of bribery in the court ruling in Gayus's case," MA spokesman Nurhadi said here on Tuesday.

The Tangerang District Court recently acquitted Gayus Tambunan, a tax official, over the case of alleged embezzlement of Rp370 million in tax payments by him.

The court's ruling caused a public outcry because Gayus was also allegedly involved in corruption, money laundering and embezzlement of tax money worth Rp24.6 billion.

The prosecutors however only brought to the court the Rp370 million alleged embezzlement case because the Rp24.6 billion case had been declared clean by the police.

Nurhadi said the MA's decision was made at a meeting also attended by MA deputy chairman for non-judicial affairs, Ahmad Kamil.

"The conclusion was made based on the results of the investigation by the MA Internal Supervision Unit into the judges handling of the case," he said.

He said the decision was "purely juridical" and its considerations were "accountable".

But he also said the MA would allow the government's task force charged with eradication judicial mafia and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to question the judges themselves.

"MA opens the opportunity for the task force and KPK to conduct their own investigation to see if the judges had committed violations," he said.

He said the MA would take harsh actions against any judge found guilty of violating judiciary rules. "Anyone involved in such a case will be punished," he said.
T.R021