Lawyer hired to represent KPU

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