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Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, Moh. Mahfud MD, denied the statement from the former Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra who said that the person who signed the policy for procurement of access fee in the Legal Institution Administration System project in the Department of Justice and Human Rights was Mahfud. That was stated by Mahfud MD in front of the press at the Constitutional Court Building, Friday (21/11) afternoon.

 

According to Mahfud, at his time as the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, he never knew about, signed, made disposition, nor initialed the project. Mahfud also felt that the never received any reports from the General Director of General Law Administration concerning the project.

 

Further more, Mahfud explained that when he was the Minister he was not more that Demissionary Minister who was not allowed by the President (Megawati) to make strategic policy. “The only official letter I made to the President was the report that I had dismissed Cipinang Jail Head,” explained Mahfud who held the position for only 3 weeks since July 20 until August 14, 2001.

 

Below was the complete statement from Moh. Mahfud MD in front of the press on November 21, 2008.

 

Press Conference Concerning the Legal Institution Administration System (Sisminbakum) project

1. I am disturbed by Pak Yusril’s statement that the agreement of access fee for sisminbakum at the Department of Law and Human Rights was in my period as the Minister of Department of Law and Human Rights. Even though Pak Yusril did not directly pull me into the case, I feel disturbed, at least by the chase of the press and hundreds of messages coming continuously.
2. I emphasize that as the Minister of Law and Human Rights at that time I never knew, never signed, never made any dispositions, never initialed, was not even reported by General Director of General Law Administration about the project.
3. As long as I was the Minister of Law and Human Rights, I only made one letter to President Megawati. Why? Because I was not effective as the Minister of Law and Human Rights.
1. I was appointed on July 20, 2001 morning and the handling over with Pak Marsillam was on July 20, 2001 afternoon.
2. Date 21 and 22 was days off, due to Saturday - Sunday.
3. On July 23, 2001 (Monday) Gus Dur was dismissed by the Higher Parliament.
4. On July 23, 2001 (Monday) Mbak Mega was elected and announced that demissionary Ministers and did not allow to make any policies until the forming of new cabinet.
5. I was indeed the Minister of Law and Human Rights until August 14, 2001, at the time of new cabinet inauguration. However until that time I held the status of demissionary minister so I never made official letters as a minister except one to the President.
4. The only official letter I made to the President was a report concerning apart from the fact that I had been demissioned, I dismissed the Head of Cipinang Jail and appointed Ngusman as the new officer in that jail. At that time, there was a riot in the jail, fire, escaped inmates, and others. After my investigation, I found out that the Head of the Jail had been ill (stroke) for a long time. That is why I changed the Head on that day. That was the only letter I made and signed as the Minister of Law and Human Rights. The letter was even made in the Department of Defence office, because at that time I had a double position as the Minister of Defence.
5. Therefore, if there was indeed a letter of agreement concerning access fee signed during my time as the Minister of Law and Human Rights then that is suspicious and indeed tingle the sense of suspicion to have a criminal motive, because I was not informed. It is a little strange that after I quitted as the minister and was replaced by Pak Yusril again there is a letter dated October 4, 2001 which according to the news was signed again by Pak Yusril. This gives an impression that the letter dated October 4, is the continuation of the related letters which previously have been signed by Pak Yusril. If it is considered important, I am ready to be questioned by the Attorney General Office.

 

Jakarta, November 21, 2008

Former Minister of

Law and Human Rights

Signed

Moh. Mahfud MD

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