Yudhoyono "shocked" by top judge's arrest President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed his shock after Indonesia's top judge was arrested by the powerful Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), in the latest blow to the credibility of the country's justice system. Akil Mochtar, who has been the head of the Constitutional Court for less than six months, was arrested late on Wednesday on suspicion of taking bribes in connection with court hearings on the outcome of two contested local elections, according to the KPK. Six other people, including a parliamentarian and a district leader, were arrested and more than $200,000 in cash seized in one of the most high-profile sting operations to date by the KPK. "This is very shocking, especially given that the constitutional court is an important institution and plays a key role for the country," Mr Yudhoyono said in a press briefing, adding that the allegations of electoral malpractice hit at the heart of people's faith in Indonesia's nascent democratic system. Corruption is systemic in Indonesia and Mr Yudhoyono has failed to live up to expectations after he was re-elected in 2009 on a mandate to fight graft, with his own Democrat party becoming mired in a series of kickback scandals. Mr Yudhoyono launched a task force to tackle corruption in the legal system but it has made little progress. The lack of legal certainty is one of the main complaints by foreign companies, at a time when Indonesia needs to encourage more investment to finance its current account deficit and reverse a decline in the pace of economic growth. The timing of Mr Mochtar's arrest is highly embarrassing for Indonesia, coming midway through a two-day visit by Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, and just before Indonesia plays host to 20 world leaders including US President Barack Obama at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bali. Allegations of electoral malpractice are widespread in Indonesia, the world's third biggest democracy, and the latest example will add to concerns ahead of the 2014 elections, when Mr Yudhoyono will step down after reaching the two-term limit. Danang Widoyoko, the co-ordinator of Indonesia Corruption Watch, an NGO, said that the arrest of Mr Mochtar, a former parliamentarian for the Golkar party, was "a severe blow for law enforcement in Indonesia, as we thought the constitutional court was the last bastion for legal enforcement in this country." But he added that it represented a significant achievement for the independent KPK, which has been targeting ever more senior figures from politicians to police commanders, despite attempts by parliamentarians and the police to curtail its powers and its influence. Mr Mochtar was appointed in April as the head of the Constitutional Court, which has the right to rule on issues related to the constitution and electoral disputes. Last month, the KPK arrested Rudi Rubiandini, the head of Indonesia's upstream oil and gas regulator, in a similar operation. Additional reporting by Taufan Hidayat in Jakarta