Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla said he would leave the case of abuse of power in the scandal over the extension of contract of PT Freeport Indonesia to the law enforcement agencies.

"Yes, the police chief once said the case meets the criteria to be investigate as a criminal case," Jusuf Kalla said here on Tuesday, adding, "leave it to them."

The vice president referred to House Speaker Setya Novanto allegedly asking for a share in PT Freeport Indonesia and in exchange offered support to guarantee that its contract would be renewed.

PT Feeport, a subsidiary of the U.S. mining Giant Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold, is seeking extension of its contract which will expire in 2021.

Energy and Mineral Resource Minister Sudirman Said reported Novanto to the House Honorary Council Tribunal with a transcript of conversation between the House Speaker and the chief executive of Freeport Indonesia.

THe transcript said Novanto used the name of President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla to convince the Freeport leader.

Jusuf Kalla said it was not right if law enforcement agencies both the attorney generals office and police know there was a legal case, but they fail to act on it.

Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo said his office is investigating alleged corruption in the case.

Prasetyo said he suspected illicit deliberation in the case.

"A law enforcement agency is to be blamed if it knew something amiss but not act on it," he said. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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