REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Lawyer Otto Hasibuan decided to step down as legal advisor of suspect on e-ID card procurement graft case, Setya Novanto. 

After defending Novanto for less than three weeks, Otto admitted he disagree with his client's thought on many things related to the handling of the case.

"As advocate, I have to maintain independency, integrity. I have to be free," Otto said when visiting KPK office on Friday (December 8).

He said, he did not want any intervention when accompanying his client.

"Nobody may influence me. People should also keep my independence," he said. 

Otto believed, Novanto has his own way to defend himself in the e-ID card corruption case.

Meanwhile, Fredrich Yunadi who asked Otto to join the team also left Novanto ahead of inaugral session of e-ID card graft case in the Corruption Court on next Wednesday (December 13). He said, Novanto understand his decision.

"Me and Otto came from the same attorney firm," Fredrich said.

According to Fredrich, one of the reason of his resignation was Novanto's decision to put Maqdir Ismail in the team. He reminded Novanto that there should be only one captain in the ship. Therefore, he made the choice. 

Fredrich said, he is still defending Novanto in other cases handled by Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim) of National Police and Constitutional Court (MK).

Fredrich had been Novanto's lawyer since the Golkar party's chairman been named as suspect in e-ID card graft case on July 17. 

On September 29, he helped Novanto in winning the pre-trial appeal and invalid the suspect status on e-ID graft case.

On November 3, KPK re-named Novanto as suspect, for the second time. Fredrich filed another pre-trial motion and the hearing was still on process.

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