Lawyer hired to represent KPU

JAKARTA: The General Elections Commission (KPU) has named noted lawyer Amir Syamsuddin to represent the commission in the any legal disputes.

The KPU said in a statement that Amir was hired on Thursday to represent it.

"His appointment was decided in a plenary meeting," KPU member Hamid Awaluddin said.

He said the lawyer would start by preparing legal moves against sociologist Laode Ida, who the KPU has accused of discrediting it.

Laode accused the 11-member commission of accepting bribes and wasting taxpayers' money by demanding official residences worth Rp 649 billion (US$77 million). KPU has denied the allegations.

The finance ministry approved in July the allocation of Rp 952 million from the state budget to provide each commission member with a house.

Hamid admitted that the commission members receive stipends for sitting on committees set up by the KPU, apart from monthly allowances. Laode claims the extra money reached Rp 30 million. -- JP