Jakarta. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is preparing a new case against former vice justice minister Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej who was recently acquitted in a pre-trial motion due to procedural issues.

Edward was initially accused of accepting Rp 8 billion ($506,500) in bribes from a businessman while in office. However, a judge in the South Jakarta District Court ruled last month that his designation as suspect was unlawful, citing an error in legal procedures.

The judge noted that two key witnesses against the suspect were interrogated by the KPK only after Edward had been charged with the bribery case, in violation of the Criminal Procedures Code. 

KPK spokesman Ali Fikri said on Wednesday the commission is preparing a new warrant in the case.

"The KPK agrees with the legal opinion stating that a pre-trial verdict examining the procedural aspects doesn’t necessarily annul the criminal investigation," Ali said.

In addition to Edward, the KPK also has named his aide, Yogi Arie Rukmana, businessman Helmut Hermawan, and lawyer Yosi Andika Mulyadi as co-suspects.

All of them have won a court ruling dismissing the criminal charges in the pre-trial motion.

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