FIFTEEN PUBLIC PROSECUTORS NAMED SUSPECTS IN GAYUS CASE

Gorontalo, Apr 8 (ANTARA) - The Attorney General's Office (AGO)has named 15 public prosecutors suspects in the Rp25 billion tax fraud case involving tax official Gayus Tambunan.

"There are 15 public prosecutors suspected of involvement in this case. But we will make their names public only tonight," Attorney General Hendarman Supanji said here on Thursday.

The AGO was expected to finish examining the 15 public prosecutors later in the day, he said.

The 15 public prosecutors were allegedly involved in the Gayus case, ranging from handing down pre-indictment to referring the case to the court, he said.

Hendarman said the police had earlier declared the Gayus case as corruption, money laundering and embezzlement but the public prosecutors handling the case watered down the charges to money laundering and embezzlement.

"The number of prosecutors who played a role in the case was not only four. Neither did they merely examine the case but one of them functioned as a superior who approved the examination," he said.

He said the AGO would impose sanctions on all the prosecutors involved in the case. And if any of them was found guilty of commuting the Gayus case they would be discharged dishonorably.
"The sanctions may be light, moderate and serious, depending on evidence of their involvement," he said.

Earlier reports had it that public prosecutors had investigated Gayus for his Rp25 billion suspicious account. However, the public prosecutors were alleged to have fabricated the dossiers and scrapped two articles on Gayus charges, namely on money laundering and corruption.

There was an indication of money laundering with the suspicious funds worth Rp25 billion as the origin of these funds was unclear.

However, the public prosecutor (Cyrus Sinaga) only charged the suspect with embezzlement of Rp450 million.

On March 12, 2010, presiding judge M Asnun, with jury members Bambang Widiatmoko and Haran Tarigan, acquitted Gayus of all charges.

A number of prosecutors who have undertaken internal examinations included Cyrus Sinaga, Fadhil Regal, Eka Kurnia Sari, Ika Safitri, Nazran Azis, Irfan Jaya Azix and Head of Tangerang's higher prosecutor's office, Suyono.