Susilo defends AG against House

Susilo defends AG against House

JAKARTA: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono rejected on Wednesday the House of Representatives' demand for him to "strongly reprimand" Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh who has helped jail a number of local councillors for graft.

As the strong reprimand was interpreted by some legislators as "dismissal", State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the House could not force the President to dismiss the chief prosecutor.

"The House cannot force the President to do what it wants or vice versa. Each has its own power, one cannot intervene in the affairs of the other," Yusril said at the State Palace.

He said the government would examine and respond to a letter from the House requesting the President to rebuke Rahman following a brief commotion in the House last week.

The rift started after a House member called Rahman a "Muslim teacher in the village of thieves", while others accused his office of being unfair in prosecuting graft cases that mainly targeted councillors from major parties. --JP