500 Police Officers Secure Pretrial Hearing of BG Vs KPK

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Some 500 police officers here, Monday, were deployed to guard the South Jakarta District Court during the final pretrial hearing of a case filed by Commissioner General Budi Gunawan to challenge the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) which has named him a suspect.

"The pretrial hearing which will read the verdict, is secured by 500 police personnel," Senior Commissioner Daniel Pasaribu of the Jakarta Police said.

The police will particularly secure the court from supporters of both Budi Gunawan and KPK who have gathered in front of the court since early in the morning. The Jakarta police have also deployed a water cannon and three Barracuda vehicles.

At least 500 people demonstrated in front to the court to support either Gunawan or the KPK.  Judge Sarpin Rizaldi chaired the sixth or final pretrial hearing.

The KPK-Police conflict surfaced after the anti-graft body named Budi Gunawan, the sole candidate for police chief,  a suspect in a corruption case on January 13, 2015. The KPK investigators accused Budi Gunawan of receiving bribes through suspicious transactions when he headed the Police Headquarters' Career Planning Bureau during 2003-2006 and held other posts in police.

Following the KPK's move, President Joko Widodo postponed the inauguration of Gunawan as new national police chief. Gunawan later filed a pretrial suit  challenging the KPK's move of naming him a graft suspect. (WDY)