Jakarta. Firli Bahuri, the suspended chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), revealed on Monday that his resignation letter, submitted to the president’s office, is pending due to a wording issue.

Firli was removed from his position after the National Police named him a criminal suspect for allegedly extorting money from a corruption suspect.

Earlier this month, he said that he had tendered his resignation to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to focus on his legal proceedings.

However, Firli retracted his letter for revision after being informed by the State Secretariat that his request couldn’t be processed.

"I am making corrections in my letter requesting resignation as both the KPK chairman and commissioner," Firli said in a statement.

He had initially sought an honorable discharge from the president, but such a request isn’t recognized by the KPK Law. 

The law stipulates that the chairman’s authority can be revoked in cases of death, term completion, impeachable conduct, becoming a criminal defendant, or incapacitation for three consecutive months.

Interim KPK Chairman Nawawi Pomolango clarified that Firli’s original letter was seeking an honorable discharge, not resignation.

"The State Secretariat indicated that the request for an honorable discharge isn’t recognized by the law," Nawawi said.

The president couldn’t dismiss Firli either as he has not yet become a defendant in a criminal court, with his case still under investigation by the police. Simultaneously, the ongoing ethics tribunal by the KPK’s oversight body has not issued a verdict.

Firli is accused of extorting then-Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo, who later became a corruption suspect in a separate KPK investigation.