Judge in Febrie Pretrial Hearing: Do Not Interfere with Our Independence

Sole judge at the South Jakarta District Court, Richard Edwin Basoeki, reminded all related parties that the pretrial hearing of former Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes, Febrie Adriansyah, should be conducted professionally.

“Lastly, I give one statement to the parties to be professional. We must uphold the dignity of the trial,” he said during the hearing for the reading of the petition on Tuesday (18/8).

Edwin reminded that no party should violate the law. He also cautioned against any attempts to influence the independence of judges in the case.

“Do not disturb our independence as judges in handling this case with matters that are influential in nature. Whether material or immaterial, please let us all safeguard it together,” he explained.

Finally, he also reminded that the trial process should not drag on merely because of legalities that remain unfulfilled.

Previously, former Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes, Febrie Adriansyah, asked the sole judge at the South Jakarta District Court to annul the determination of his suspect status as well as the search of his house in Sentul.

This was conveyed by Febrie in the petitum of the pretrial lawsuit filed with the South Jakarta District Court. Febrie also asked the judge to declare invalid all legal actions, including the issuance of investigation warrants, seizures, and travel bans.

“Accept and grant the Pretrial Petition submitted by the Petitioner in its entirety,” said Febrie Adriansyah’s legal counsel, Farizi, while reading the lawsuit during the hearing at the South Jakarta District Court on Tuesday (18/8).

The Attorney General’s Office has named former Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes, Febrie Adriansyah, as a suspect in a money laundering case related to the discovery of 74 kilograms of gold and Rp543 billion in cash at his house in Sentul.

Most recently, the Attorney General’s Office also named private parties Nurman Herin (NH) and lawyer Don Ritto (DR) as suspects for their alleged involvement in the money laundering case together with Febrie.

Chairman of Team 9 and Junior Attorney General for Supervision, Rudi Margono, said the alleged money laundering was carried out by Febrie as a prosecutor or structural official during his service at the Attorney General’s Office.