REVISION OF ANTI-GRAFT LAW FINALLY POSTPONED

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 22 (Antara) - The planned revision of Law No.30/2002 on Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is finally postponed after President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) met with the leadership of the House of Representatives (DPR) and of the KPK on Monday.          The postponement of the law revision followed the pros and cons regarding four points of the draft revision which many quarters saw as an attempt to weaken the authority of the anti-graft body in fighting corruption in the country.          "After a comprehensive discussion, we agreed that the issue of revision of KPK law should not be discussed at this time. It must be postponed. I looked at the need for sufficient time for finalizing the planned revision of the law and making the public aware," President Jokowi stated after meeting with the leaders of the DPR and the KPK.          On Wednesday night last week, the DPR decided to postpone the deliberation of the draft from Thursday (Feb.18) to next Tuesday (Feb 23).  It has planned to take the draft to its plenary to decide whether it could be endorsed as the House initiative to revise it.          However, a series of opposition to the plan from many quarters have come to the surface in the run up to the plenary session, including from the Democrat Party leaders and religious figures.

POLICE HAVE NO INTENTION TO WEAKEN ANTI-GRAFT BODY?

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 7 (ANTARA) - The attempt to arrest a Corruption Elimination Commission (KPK) investigator on Friday when the anti-graft body is investigating a police general over an alleged corruption has confirmed public conviction that KPK is being criminalized.          Tens of police officers came to the   KPK building on Friday night shortly after Police Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo had undergone questioning over his alleged involvement in a driving simulator corruption case.          They were trying to pick up one of the KPK investigators, namely police commissioner Novel Baswedan, who was alleged by police to have committed a criminal act that caused the loss of life of a victim in Bengkulu province in 2004.          Apart from whether or not it happens by chance, the attempt to arrest Baswedan and the withdrawal of 20 police on loan to the KPK took place at a time when the anti-graft commission was investigating Djoko Susilo, the former chief of the National Traffic Police Corps and a suspect in the alleged driving simulator corruption case.          Then it is just logical if the public discourses arise and opinions are formed that the KPK is being criminalized. This is because the police took the action when the KPK was investigating a police general.          "We hope that the people would not let themselves be carried away by the issue, thus forming public opinions and linking the attempt to arrest Baswedan with the investigation of the driving simulator corruption case," said former Jakarta police chief retired commissioner general Noegroho Djajoesman, on Saturday.          He said that the effort to arrest Baswedan was not an attempt to criminalize the KPK by the police.          "It has nothing to do with the criminalization of the KPK, regardless of whether Commissioner Novel Baswedan is a police or a civil servant," Noegroho said in press statement on Saturday.          Noegroho said that the people must wisely understand that the  the General Criminal Investigation Department of the Bengkulu Regional Police was taking a legal step to follow up an alleged criminal act committed by Commissioner Novel Baswedan back in 2004.          "We can understand if the police unit --where Baswedan used to serve in the Bengkulu Regional Police-- takes actions and follows up the legal case of its member who is alleged to have committed a crime," noted Noegroho.          Retired as a three star police general, Noegroho criticized the KPK chairman who, he said, overly defended the anti-graft institution and took a premature conclusion that Baswedan was not guilty. It is only the court that has the right to pronounce whether or not someone is guilty, he said.          According to Senior Commissioner Dedy Irianto, the head of the general criminal investigation department of the Bengkulu Rigional Police, Baswedan's case was purely a crime.          He said when he was chief of the General Criminal Investigation Unit of the Bengkulu City Police Headquarters in 2004,  Baswedan who was first inspector, shot six thieves who had stolen swallow nests.       "After being interrogated, the six suspects were taken to Bengkulu's Panjung Ujung beach and were shot there. The shooting of the victims caused eventual death of one of them," Dedy said.          However, KPK chairman Abraham Samad said on Saturday that the police accusation against  KPK investigator Baswedan  was not true. "After we examined him, we found that Baswedan did not commit a crime as the police have accused him of," asserted Abraham in Semarang, Central Java, on Saturday.          As regards, the KPK will do its best to prevent any effort to criminalize the anti-corruption body and any forceful arrest of its investigators who were investigating the alleged driving simulator corruption case.          On the occasion, Abraham hoped President Susilo Bambang Yudhoynono would interfere in settling the dispute between the KPK and the police.          "We have to set aside institutional egoism in an effort to save the nation and to fight corruption," the KPK chairman said.          He acknowledged that there were efforts being made by some to weaken the institution systematically. "Efforts to weaken KPK have been made systematically in various forms, including through terror, such as the one happening last night when several police officers tried to pick up one of the KPK investigators," he said on Saturday.          Abraham added that the KPK was besieged on Friday night when several police officers sought to forcibly remove KPK investigator police commissioner Novel Baswedan.          "The situation at KPK last night was not conducive for idealistic KPK investigators," he said.          Meanwhile, Muslim scholar Hasyim Muzadi said President Yudhoyono must interfere soon to overcome the dispute between the KPK and the National Police.          "The president should have reprimanded the Police chief. If he does not do it and continues to leave it unheeded, it means there is  something," Hasyim Muzadi  said in Semarang.          He said that the conflict between the KPK and the Police --which continued to take place and heat up-- was the consequence of the state condition which is not yet anti-corruption minded.  This could serve as a bad precedent.          "The state and government officials who actually should protect and support the KPK turned out to be disappointing," said Hasjim who is also former general chairman of the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).          Meanwhile, deputy minister of justice and human rights Denny Indrayana said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would make a statement with regard to the dispute between the KPK and the police.          "Perhaps he would do it in one or two days' time," he said.          The police have denied that they had criminalized KPK. "The police are one of the institutions that develop KPK. So, if we are trying to carry out law enforcement it must not be considered criminalizing," the chief of the National Police Crime Investigation Department, Commissioner General Sutarman said meanwhile.***1***    (T.A014/A/A014/S012) 07-10-2012 12:03:

CALLS TO STOP REVISION OF LAW ON ANTI-GRAFT AGENCY RISING

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 5 (ANTAR) - The idea to revise Law No. 30/2002 on Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was previously intended to strengthen the anti-graft agency as part of efforts to fight corruption cases in Indonesia.              The House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission III on legal affairs has been discussing the draft revision of the law and has transferred it to the House's Legislation Body for further harmonization.              Yet, many lawmakers who previously agreed to the revision have withdrawn their support as it turned out that the draft revision of the law included proposals which adversely tried to weaken the authority of the KPK rather than strengthen it.              Saan Mustopa of the House Commission III said that he rejected the revision of the anti-graft law if it adversely weakened the KPK and reduced its authority. "The revision should aim to strengthen the KPK, not weaken it. The existing authority must be maintained," asserted Mustopa.              Commission III, which deliberated the draft revision of Law No. 30/2002, has submitted the draft document to the House's Legislation Body for harmonization and synchronization.              There are at least three big issues proposed to be revised in the law. The three issues include the scrapping of the KPK authority to carry out prosecution, the tightening of requirements for KPK to tap information and the formation of a supervisory council for KPK.              On Thursday, the United Development Party faction (F-PPP) in the House of Representatives officially tabled its request for terminating deliberations on the draft revision. "The F-PPP has officially sent a letter to the DPR leadership to stop deliberating the draft revision of the law on KPK," Arwani Thomafi, the secretary of F-PPP, said at the DPR building on Thursday.              Thomafi explained that the decision of F-PPP to propose the termination of the deliberation of the law on the anti-graft commission was made in a PPP faction leadership meeting on Tuesday.              In its letter to the DPR leadership, the F-PPP explained that its reason to stop the efforts to revise the law was because they sought to weaken the KPK.      According to F-PPP Chairman Hasrul Azwar, the KPK should serve as an extraordinary institution for rooting out corruption so that its rights to prosecution and tapping information should be maintained.              "In the draft revision, the KPK rights to prosecution and tapping are to be eliminated," Azwar said.              The same opposition was also voiced by Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) party figure Hidayat Nur Wahid. He stated that his party was also opposed to the planned revision of the law.              "The PKS faction, including its members sitting in the House legislation body, has demanded that the proposed revision of the law on KPK be cancelled," he said, adding that the PKS would always support the KPK in its fight against corruption.              The Golkar Party described the efforts to revise the law as an attempt to strip it of its authority and to weaken it.     "The Golkar Party faction has always expected the purpose of the revision of the law to be strengthening the KPK. Since we perceive the proposed revision of the law tends to weaken the function of the KPK, we suggest that the revision of the law be stopped," Secretary of the Golkar Party faction in the House of Representatives (DPR) DR Ade Komarudin said.              "In principle, the revision is intended to strengthen and not to weaken the KPK. If the revision of the law will weaken the KPK we must oppose it," he added.              According to him, the KPK has optimally done its job and has made extraordinary achievements in fighting corruption in the country.     Under the proposed revision of the law, the KPK will no longer have the authority to indict people in corruption cases.              "This has sparked controversy and debate as there seems to be an attempt to reduce the KPK's authority. There should be articles which govern details of the KPK's authority so that the institution would be stronger and be able to perform its duties and functions," he said.              Therefore, Golkar senior leader Priyo Budi Santoso, who is also the deputy chairman of the House of Representatives, has supported a proposal to cancel the planned revision of the law.              "We must listen to the mounting demand from the public, who reject the revision of the law," he said at the parliament building on Wednesday.              Supporting the rejection of the revision was People's Conscience (Hanura) Party General Chairman Wiranto. He told Hanura's representatives in the House to protect the KPK from efforts to weaken it.              "KPK is a spearhead in efforts to eliminate corruption. So, it should maintain its strong authority so that it can perform its job effectively," said Wiranto.              Hanura's cadre Syarifuddin Sudding, who is a member of Commission III of the House, said that his faction had fought for the strengthening of the anti-graft body.     "We are of the view that KPK needs a strong authority," Syarifuddin added.              Calls for the strengthening the KPK also came from the Indonesian National Youth Committee (KNPI) and a group of community leaders.              KNPI chairman for Kuala Lumpur branch, Sagir Alva said that a systematic effort to weaken the KPK could clearly be observed.              "In order to prevent the KPK from constantly posing a threat to the corrupt, a systematic effort is being made to weaken it through revising Law No.30/2002 on the KPK, which has sent many corrupt officials to jail," Alva said.              A group of community leaders have given their moral support to the country's anti-graft agency, which is facing alleged attempts to weaken it.              The group includes rector of the state-run Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic University Komaruddin Hidayat, criminal law expert J.E Sahetapy, International Law expert Hikmahanto Juwana, cultural observer Taufiq Ismail, Nahdatul Ulama leader Salahuddin Wahid, rector of the Paramadina University Anies Baswedan, former chairman of Indonesian Church Council Natan Setiabudi and leading journalist Bambang Harimurti.               According to Komaruddin, the KPK was established with a view to stamp out corruption, which is rampant in the country. However, it is facing massive attempts to undermine and cripple it, as well as to strip it off its power.              "We are giving our support to the people's expectation for a clean institution, with the KPK as a symbol to help build a clean government," Komaruddin said.             Sahetapy called those seeking to weaken the KPK a 'bunch of traitors' to the state.              "I would like to say that those seeking to strip the KPK off part of its power, including the honourable people's representatives at the Parliament, who have cited inconceivable pretexts, could be categorized as traitors to the state  or defenders of corruption," Sahetapy said.***1***  (T.A014/A/KR-BSR/F001) 05-10-2012 18:19:

NEW ANTI-GRAFT CHIEF PROMISES TO FIGHT BIG CASES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 2 (ANTARA)  - The election on Friday of young figure Abraham Samad (43) as the chief of the country's anti-graft body, or the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), raised new hope as he came up with promise to deal with large scale corruption cases.          "The KPK chief has the mandate from the people to crack down on corruption. I have to carry out the mandate. I will give priority to large scale corruption cases, namely those involving over Rp1 billion," Abraham who was named the KPK chief on Friday evening said.          As a young figure that is not contaminated by politics and influenced by political parties, his statements seemed to convince many quarters and raise new hope that the ant-graft body would have different performance under his leadership.          He said that he would give priority to investigating big cases because the law required him to do so. "Based on Law No. 30 / 2002 on KPK, the KPK is tasked with handling large-scale corruption cases," Abraham Samad said in an interactive dialog held by a private TV station following his election.           Abraham Samad was elected KPK chairman for the 2011- 2015 period in a plenary of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission III on legal affairs on Friday evening.          He won 43 votes out of the 56 members of the House Commission III, defeating present KPK chief Busyro Muqoddas and other candidates.          Before electing the KPK chief, Commission III members elected four new KPK members out of eight candidates, namely Bambang Widjojanto , Abraham Samad, Adnan Pandu Praja and Zulkarnaen who respectively won 55, 55, 51 and 37 votes.          His election was hailed by many quarters, including the Indonesia Clean Movement (GIB). "There is optimism with the election of Abraham Samad as the KPK chief. He is a young figure who is not yet contaminated and co-opted by certain political powers," GIB Coordinator Adhie Masardi said.         He said that the Abraham - Bambang Widjajanto duo was expected to bring fresh wind to the efforts of corruption crack-down in Indonesia. "I hope Abraham would act like the Late Baharuddin Lopa, former attorney general," he said.          Adhie said that the indicator if a change would happen with the KPI was that the initial step of the new leadership conducted internal investigation with the KPK.  He suspected that the anti-graft body had been infiltrated by people who in fact were willing to hamper corruption eradication efforts.          He said that  Abraham was expected to work better because as a young man he was not yet influenced by politics and that he could not be easily be dictated by certain political forces. That?s why legislators at the House Commission III named him.         "We want to have an independent KPK leader. Abraham has commitment to handling cases which we often mention," Trimedya Panjaitan of Commission III on legal affairs of the House of Representatives   said.          He mentioned several factors why Abraham was elected KPK chairman. He said that Abraham was relatively 'uncontaminated' (by politics) and a person who came from a village or region who deserved to be given the chance to lead.           "He is a person who is not contaminated by the center of power and by the hustle and bustle of legal problems in Jakarta. He is relatively uncontaminated," the legislator said.          Trimedya who is a legislator of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Stuggle (PDI), said therefore his side had no choice other than Abraham and Bambang Widjojanto for the KPK leadership.          In the meantime, the Constitutional Court (MK) also expressed hope that the four leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) would be more focused on cracking down on corruption.   "We hope the new KPK leaders would not do their job with one man one show," Constitutional Court's Judge Akil Mochtar said.           Akil said that the KPK leaders should not also show their pessimistic attitude towards the efforts to eliminate corruption. They need not issue a political statement but focus on corruption eradication only.          He said that efforts to fight corruption would not be successful only with statements and ideas but with performance and a measured system. For that, his side expressed hope that the KPK leaders could work hard in revealing large-scale corruption cases yet not neglecting smaller ones.          The MK hope is in line with Abraham?s promise to handle large scale corruption cases, namely those involving over Rp1 billion. When a reporter asked him about the Bank Century case on which the KPK had not made any progress so far, Abraham said all large-scale cases would become the KPK's priority.          During the fit and proper test in parliament, Abraham said he was ready to investigate big cases such as the Rp6.7 billion bailout case of Bank Century. "I am ready to crack down on corruption cases indiscriminately," he added.          He promised to show the results of his work in one year, saying that if after one year, he had proved unable to uncover big corruption cases, he would be ready to resign from his post. In doing his task, he also promised he would ignore when there was in intervention from outsider when he was handling a case.          "I will go ahead with my investigation while praying to God for His protection," he said.***3*** (T.A014/A/H-NG/23:45/a015) 02-12-2011 23:39

HOUSE CALLS FOR PROBE OF PEOPLE MENTIONED IN RECORDINGS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 3 (ANTARA) - The House of Representatives (DPR) called for investigation of all people mentioned in the wiretapped conversations that indicated a alleged plot to frame anti-graft body leaders.

        Besides the DPR call, the independent Fact-Finding team also urged the Police Chief to suspend Criminal Investigation Department Head Commissioner General Susno Duaji.

        The calls were made after the Constitutional Court in its session here on Tuesday listened to a recording bugged by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

        Among those mentioned in the recordings are vice attorney general Abdul Hakim Ritonga, former deputy attorney general for intelligence Wisnu Subroto, national police's chief intelligence Commissioner General Susno Duadji and former national police's deputy chief intelligence Inspector General Hadiatmoko.

        After attending a Constitutional Court (MK) session to listen to a wiretapped recording purporting to show the existence of a plot to frame KPK deputy chiefs Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandara Hamzah, the team's chairman, Adnan Buyung Nasution, held a press conference at the building of the Presidential Advisory Institution.

        Nasution told the press that he had immediately contacted National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri with regard to the request of the team to suspend Susno Duaji.

        "A quick response needs to be made against law enforcers, particularly the Police criminal investigation department (Barescrim) chief who handled the case of Chandra and Bibit," Nasution said.

        Police on Tuesday (Sept. 15, 2009 ) named KPK vice chairmen Chandra M Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto suspects and later detained them in alleged bribery, abuse of authority and extortion charges.

        They were alleged to have abused authority with regard to the issuance of a travel ban on businessman Anggoro Widjojo, director of PT Masaro Radiokom. Aggoro was allegedly involved in a Rp180 billion corruption case with an Integrated Radio Communication System (SKRT) project in the Ministry of Forestry.

        Earlier, the KPK had obtained initial proof Duaji had used his power to make ailing Bank Century return a huge amount of deposited funds to their owner unlawfully.

        However, many quarters questioned the arrest of the two KPK leaders.

        Thus, the independent verification team was formed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to investigate the legal facts on the detention the two suspended KPK commissioners.

        Adnan Budyung Nasution said that the police chief had positively responded to the team's request.

        Besides asking for the suspension of the Bareskrim head, the team had also suggested that the Police Headquarters take quick action against Anggodo Widjojo.

        "We all agree that Anggodo who is the central figure in the wiretapped conversations and has extensive relations with law enforcers, must be dealt with and not allowed to remain free to go anywhere," he said.

        In the meantime, House Speaker Marzuki Alie has asked for the investigation of all the people mentioned in the wiretapped recording listened to at a Constitutional Court (MK) session on Tuesday.

        "By making it transparent, the people will know and will not become confused with regard to the case," he told newsmen at the parliament building here on Tuesday.

        Marzuki said the law enforcers must be frank in giving information to the public on dealing with the case of suspended antigraft commissioners Chandra M Hamzah and Bibit Samad Ryanto.

        The law enforcers, he said, must work professionally and those who are really guilty including police members must be dealt with according to the law.

        Marzuki said those mentioned in the recording must be investigated to clarify the case.

        "It would be better for those people to be summoned for investigation," he said.

        Constitutional Court (MK) judge Akil Mochtar meanwhile said the team must immediately investigate Anggodo to avoid bureaucratic hurdles.

        Akil said the team which was set up based on a presidential instruction to collect legal facts surrounding the detention of suspended antigraft commissioners Bibit Samat Ryanto and Chandra M Hamzah to move quickly to uncover the case.

        He said Anggodo's investigation would also help the team investigate the Bibit-Chandra case.

        Akil said the status of the brother of corruption suspect Anggoro Widjojo was personal, not institutional like KPK, the Attorney General's Office or the police, and therefore could be immediately processed based on the recordings as Anggodo had also mentioned the name of the President in the recordings.

        In order to verify those mentioned in the recordings, the independent Fact-Finding Team will hold a series of meetings with various sides before it submits a recommendation to the president.

        "We have meeting agendas on Wednesday and Thursday," Nasution said after attending a session on a judicial review of Law No. 30 / 2002 on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) at the Constitutional Court (MK) here on Tuesday.

        Speaking to the press at the Presidential Advisory Building, Nasution said that the team would meet a number of prominent figures, including non-governmental organization (NGO) activists, on Wednesday.

        On Thursday, the team will meet various sides suspected of involvement in an alleged plot to frame two KPK leaders Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Marta Hamzah.

        It will also meet with former KPK chairman Antasari Azhar, businessman Anggodo, former junior attorney general for intelligence affairs Winu Subroto and chief of Police's Criminal Investigation Department, Susono Duaji.

        He said that the most important thing was to ask for explanations from Anggodo which was the central figure in the alleged plot to frame the KPK leaders.****4*** (A014/A/H-NG/a014)

       

        (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 04-11-2009 01:14:38

SYMPATHY FOR DETAINED ANTI-GRAFT BODY LEADERS RISING

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 31 (ANTARA) - How strongly the Indonesian people wish to see corruption in their country rooted out can perhaps be seen in the growing public sympathy for Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Hamzah, two Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy chiefs, who have been detained by police on bribery and abuse of authority charges.

        Regardless of whether or not the two anti-graft body commissioners are guilty, public sympathy for them is rising partly because of the performance of their institution, the KPK, which has become an icon of the war against corruption.

        Thus, its deputies are able to gain sympathy from the public when they are now in police custody, no matter who they actually are, wrong or right. In addition, the circulation of the transcript of a wiretapped telephone conversation suggesting the existence of a plot to frame the two anti-graft deputies and undermine the KPK itself, has helped to create public suspicion about why they arrested.

        On Thursday, police detained Bibit Samat and Chandra Hamzah who had been named suspects over alleged abuse of authority with regard to the issuance of a travel ban on businessman Anggoro Widjojo and also the issuance of a travel ban and later its revocation for businessman Djoko Tjandra.

        Anggoro Widjojo was previously investigated by the KPK over an alleged corruption in a forestry ministry project. Bibit and Chandra were suspected to have received a bribe of Rp7.6 billion from Anggodo Widjojo, a brother of Anggoro Widjojo.

        Up to Saturday, the tapped conversations had yet to be opened to the public although its transcript had been widely published by the media.

        In the meantime, expressions of public support for Bibit and Chandra continue to multiply. Even, former president Abdurrahman Wahid came to the KPK office to express readiness to vouch for the innocence of the two arrested KPK deputy chiefs.

        "I came to add more support for their release from detention. I am prepared to put my name on the line in this case," Abdurrahman Wahid who is popularly called 'Gus Dur' said after visiting the KPK office on Saturday.

        Gus Dur's action for the release of the suspended KPK deputy chiefs Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Hamzah came after several other national figures had also declared their conviction that the two KPK leaders' arrest was a mistake. Inside the anti graft body's office, Gus Dur met KPK Vice Chairmen Haryono Ahmad, Mas Ahmad Sentosa and Waluyo along with other KPK officials.

        Other reactions also came from the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW), which regretted the arrest of Bibit and Chandra.

        "We regret the detention of the two KPK leaders at a time when they are submitting a judicial review over the KPK law to the Constitutional Court," ICW researcher Febri Diansyah, said.

        Golkar politician Yuddy Chrisnandi in the meantime visited the KPK office on Saturday to express his support to KPK. Chirsnandi said although the two suspended KPK deputy chiefs, Chandra M Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto, were currently facing legal trouble, he would continue to support the Commission.

        "We come here to the KPK office to give our support for the Commission to continue eradicating systematic corruption," Chrisnandi said. "Let people give their support for the arrested KPK chairmen," he added expressing doubt about President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's commitment to supremacy of the law. He was certain that the president was just accepting every measure taken by the police, including an allegedly illegal effort to frame the KPK leaders as indicated in the alleged wiretapped telephone conversations.

        He also said he was sure the case involving the KPK leaders had something to do with "something of a larger scope" which was now beginning to be perceived by the public.

        "I personally am certain that their (Bibit and Chandra's) case has something to do with the Bank Century scandal," Chrisnandi said referring to the ailing bank which neglected their customers but has received a much-criticized bailout of Rp6.7 trillion.

        The president's special adviser for law affairs Denny Indrayana acknowledged that the charges the police had cited for detaining the KPK commissioners were not fixed and this had caused pros and cons.

        "So far the police have been uncertain in determining the charges for detaining them and therefore pros and cons emerged in the public," Denny Indrayana said.

        He said there were questions regarding the police's decision with regard to the development of the case of KPK commissioners. The police had mentioned bribery, attempt to bribe and power abuse as their charges but later they were changed into power abuse and now extortion was also included in it. "The uncertainty of the charges has created pros and cons among the public," he said.

        In this case, House Commission III will invite the national police chief to explain about the police's decision to detain the two suspended KPK vice chairmen.

        "We, in Commission III in the House of Representatives (DPR), think there is no strong argument for the police to detain the two KPK deputies," he said after a discussion on "Polemics: Drama over Bibit and Chandra's detention."

        Gayus said the meeting between the national police chief and the commission that deals with law, security and human rights affairs was a routine event because the police was the commission's working partner.

        On Friday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on the authorities concerned to investigate and uncover the parties behind the circulation of the transcript of a tapped phone conversation purporting to prove the framing of the two KPK commissioners.

        "Regarding the transcript, I have asked for a thorough investigation of the case and into those recorded to see if they lead to the case of KPK chairmen Bibit and Chandra. Open it, explain it and investigate it thoroughly," he said in a press conference.

        In the meantime, National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri has promised to investigate the case and had ordered the force's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) to carry out the investigation.

        "The police will investigate the case. I have ordered the Bareskrim to conduct a probe and investigation," he said.***4*** (T.014/A/HAJM/22:45/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 31-10-2009 23:00:15

SPECULATIONS ARISING ON POLICE MOTIVE IN ANTI-GRAFT COMMISSIONERS' ARREST

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 30 (ANTARA) - The detention of suspended Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputies Bibit Samat Riyanto and Chandra M Hamzah on Thursday has sparked speculations that police are trying to cover up a wire-tapped conversation which allegedly indicated a plot to fabricate a case that would bring down the two deputies and undermine the KPK.

        "We are afraid that the detention is an effort to cover up reports on the recordings which were allegedly a fabrication to get the two KPK deputies jailed," Zainal Arifin, coordinator of the Anti-Corruption Research Center (PuKat) of Gajah Mada Univsity, said on Friday.

        On Thursday, police detained Bibit Samad and Chandra Hamzah who had been named suspects over alleged abuse of authority with regard to the issuance of a travel ban on businessman Anggoro Widjojo and also the issuance of a travel ban and later its revocation for businessman Djoko Tjandra.

        The arrest has drawn mixed reactions. Many saw the case as the result of a rivalry between the KPK and Police. Earlier, over the investigation of its deputies, the KPK accused the National Police's chief detective, Commissioner General Susno Duaji, of carrying out nonprocedural examinations, and the police had thus acted against the two KPK vice chairmen on trumped-up charges.

        In order not to make the public confused, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono summoned National Police Chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri and other related ministers to discuss the matter on Friday.

        The president asked the police chief to give the public an explanation about the arrest of two suspended KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission) leaders. "Please explain the matter to the public to clear it up," President Yudhoyono said prior to a closed-door meeting .

        President Yudhoyono himself said the detention of Bibit Samad Riyanto and Chandra Hamzah was not due to an institutional conflict between police and the KPK. This must be explained to the public.

        "The president said that he kept on monitoring developments of the KPK case, where its deputies Bibit and Chandra have been detained. He stressed that it was not an institutional conflict. It was a legal matter being handled by police, KPK and the prosecutors that involved individuals," Minister of Communications and Informatics Tifatul Sembiring who attended the meeting said. "Therefore, the president stressed that the problem should be left to the legal procedure," the minister said.

        In the meantime, National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri said police decided to detain Chandra M Hamzah and Bibit Samat Riyanto because they had hindered investigations into their case. "Because they hindered the investigations, the police took them into custody as they are authorized to do under the law," Danuri said at a press conference.

        Danuri said police investigators remained confident that Chandra M Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto had received a bribe from businessman Anggoro Widjojo, director of PT Masaro Radiokom who was allegedly involved in a corruption case in connection with an Integrated Radio Communication System (SKRT) project in the Ministry of Forestry. The case was handled by KPK.

        The Police chief admitted however it was difficult to charge a person in bribery case if she or he was not caught red-handed but (in this case) there were witnesses who supported the allegation.

        He admitted that up to now police did not yet have evidence of the alleged Rp6.7 billion bribe given to Chandra and Bibit in August and September last year. "The money reportedly did not reach both suspects but there was a suspicious effort, namely a travel ban," he said.

        Danuri said that even though the travel bans had been issued for businessmen Anggoro Widjoyo and Djoko Tjandra, the KPK did not follow up the bans with investigations until one year later. "Travel bans had been issued but the cases were not investigated. They began to investigate only when police began their own investigation," he said.

        The police chief said that police had submitted the dossiers of the two KPK deputies to the Attorney General's Office (AGO).

        Danuri also explained that police had also named Ari Muladi as a suspect, not in a bribery case but rather for fraud. Police released Ari four days before his detention period was completed because police found it difficult to complete his dossiers.

        In this case, Anggodo Wijdojo, younger brother of Anggoro Widjoyo, a KPK fugitive, had handed over bribe money several times amounting to Rp7.6 billion in August and September.

        The money was allegedly given to the KPK leaders in an attempt to persuade the KPK to lift the travel ban on Anggoro. However, Anggodo did not give the money directly to the KPK leaders but through Ari Muladi. Ari then gave the money to someone known only by the initial Y who up to now is still at large.

        However, all this was based on an alleged wiretapped conversation which is a plot design to undermined the KPK and frame two of its deputies.

        Minister of Law and Human Rights Affairs Patrialis Akbar, therefore, called on the KPK leadership in whose possession the recording now was to open it to the public. "The recording had better be opened to the public so that the people will not speculate on the issue," the minister said.***4*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/23:45/H-YH) (T.A014/A/A014/A/H-YH) 31-10-2009 00:06:40

'RIVALRY' BETWEEN ANTI-GRAFT BODY AND POLICE CONTINUING

By Andi Abdussalam

    Jakarta, Sept 29 (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) reported chief detective, Commissioner General Susno Duaji, to police on Monday over an alleged non procedural investigation on KPK leaders.

        The Police's Criminal Investigation Department will at the same time begin this week to grill two remaining KPK deputies as witnesses over an alleged power abuse of their fellow deputies.

        "Yes, (we have been summoned) as witnesses in the alleged power abuse case," KPK deputy chairman M Jasin said when asked to confirm the police summons on Monday.

        On the other hand, lawyers of Bibit Samad and Chandra Hamzah, two KPK deputies who have been named suspects, on Monday filed a formal complaint against Susno Duaji, with the national police's inspectorate for general supervision with regard to his decision to name the two KPK vice chairmen suspects.

        The KPK lawyers said Susno had violated a government regulation on police discipline.

        KPK deputies Bibit Samad and Chandra Hamzah have been named suspects by police over an alleged abuse of authority with regard to the issuance of a travel ban on businessman Anggoro Widjojo and also the issuance of a travel ban and later its revocation for businessman Djoko Tjandra.

        Over the investigation of its deputies, the KPK accused Duaji of carrying out nonprocedural examinations, and the police had thus acted against the two KPK vice chairmen on trumped-up charges.

        Before the rivalry between the KPK and the police came up to the surface, the KPK had recently obtained initial proof Duaji had used his power to make Bank Century return a huge amount of deposited funds to their owner unlawfully.

        Amids calls by civil society groups that Duaji should be suspended from his post, Duaji's Investigation Department is questioning this week as witnesses two remaining KPK deputies, M Jasin and Haryono Umar.

        Jasin said he and Haryono Umar would be questioned on Thursday as witnesses for the case of suspended KPK deputy chiefs Bibit Samad Riyanto and Chandra M Hamzah who had been named suspects.

        The police have also summoned four KPK investigators, two of them to be grilled on Tuesday and two others on Wednesday. KPK chairman Antasari Azhar has been suspended after being named a suspect in a murder.

        Several civil society groups consider the police investigation on the KPK leaders nonprocedural. They think the police have acted against the two KPK vice chairmen on trumped-up charges.

        Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Hidayat Nurwahid supported the demand of various civil society groups for the suspension of the National Police's chief detective, Susno Duaji.

        "I think it is an appropriate thing to consider suspending Duaji so that he can concentrate on his own legal case," the MPR chairman said after a get-together with media editors on Monday.

        Senior lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution who is also a presidential adviser recently asked National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri to suspend police chief intelligence to wipe out the impression of a rivalry between KPK and Police.

        "I said it would be better if the police chief suspends Susno Duaji," Buyung said after meeting a number of chief editors on Friday.

        According to Nurwahid, Duaji's suspension is considered necessary because the KPK has recently obtained initial proof he had used his power to make Bank Century return a huge amount of deposited funds to their owner unlawfully.

        The MPR chairman said that if the legal case of the police chief detective could be cleared, his legal problem was settled, and he could then be reinstated in his post.

        Nurwahid also hoped that the legal process now being pursued by the Criminal Investigation Department against Bibit Samad Riyanto and Chandra Hamzah would be freed from the impression of conflict of interest between the two law enforcement institutions.

        Nurwahid said if a conflict of interest was marring the legal process against the two KPK leaders, law enforcement against corruption in the country would suffer a setback.

        Therefore, Vice President Jusuf Kalla ordered the national police chief on Monday to speed up the legal process against the two KPK deputy chairmen to avoid the impressions of rivalry between the police and the KPK.

        "The right solution (to the problem) is processing their (Chandra and Bibit's) case immediately and resolutely," he told reporters after receiving National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri.

        Kalla said if there was indeed strong evidence to show they were guilty, their case must be legally processed immediately but if no proof was found, the case must be closed.

        The vice president said it seemed a problem had lately developed in the relations between the police and the KPK while actually the cases were separate.

        In the meantime, anti-graft program director of the Nahdlatul Ulama National Headquarters (PBNU) Syaiful Bahri Anshori called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to help solve the disharmony between the KPK and the National Police.

        "I appeal to all sides of this nation, both the government, public leaders, non-governmental organizations, academicians, and young activists, to get together in mobilizing strength and power against injustice and hypocrisy, for good governance and free the people from corruption," he said.***1*** (T.A014/A/H-NG/A/O001) (T.A014/A/A014/A/O001) 29-09-2009 10:45:37

BPKP'S PLAN TO AUDIT ANTI-GRAFT BODY SPARKS CONTROVERSIES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 27 (ANTARA) - The Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP)'s plan to audit the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has sparked controversy with experts saying the move would weaken the anti-graft body while the BPKP had no right to audit a state institution outside the executive branch of government.

        However, BPKP chief Didi Widayanti said his agency would go ahead with its plan to audit KPK despite resistance from many parties. "The audit will not be an institutional but a financial one," he said on Friday.

        The BPKP mentioned its plan to audit the anti-corruption agency only one day after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was reported as saying during a visit to the office of Kompas daily on Wednesday that KPK had become a "super body."

        Observers and media reports immediately linked the BPKP move with president's statement as an attempt to weaken the KPK's role in fighting corruption, an allegation that Yudhoyono has denied.

        "I was surprised to hear reports from ministers and staff and to see media reports stating as if the president had ordered the BPKP to audit the KPK. There has never been an order from the President for the BPKP to audit KPK," he said at a press conference on Friday.

        He said there had been media reports in the past few days alleging the President had ordered the BPKP to audit KPK. "BPKP audits internal administrative offices. It is not the authority of BPKP to audit a state institution not under the authority of the President," he said.

        He said he had so far never received reports from the BPKP chief regarding the issue and therefore was not aware of such a discourse developing among the people. "It is not true and no such thing happened," he said.

        The President said he had already ordered the minister/state secretary and other officials concerned to seek a clarifications and make checks on the reports.

        With regard to the BPKP move, corruption criminal observer Saldi Isra said there was an attempt to weaken the performance of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in its fight against corruption crimes, an observer said.

        "I can see many efforts being made now to weaken the KPK," corruption criminal observer Saldi Isra said during a dialog on corruption issues and presidential campaigns on Saturday.

        In fact, the BPKP step to audit KPK is a wrong step. Saldi said that BPKP had no authority to audit KPK because KPK was an independent institution which was not responsible to the president. "The BPKP could only audit an institution within the executive branch of government," Saldi, a constitutional law expert, said.

        The same voice was also raised by Abdullah Hehamahua, an adviser of KPK. He said that KPK was a state institution outside the BPKP's authority to audit. "KPK is a state institution, not a government agency so that it could not be audited by BPKP," he stressed. He said that BPKP could only supervise the use of state money by an institution under the president.

        According to Saldi Isra, efforts to weaken KPK's performance had actually been made even before the BPKP move to audit it. The efforts among others were made through formal legal and political interventions.

        Saldi said several judicial reviews on the corruption eradication law and the law on KPK were formal legal interventions that could weaken the efforts to eradicate corruption. Besides, political institutions also often intervened into various KPK's authorities, for example questioning its authority to tap activities in government agencies.

        "There are many steps taken by KPK which are always questioned," Saldi said.

        On the opinion that KPK is a super body, Hehamahua denied it. "Many people said that KPK was a super body while in reality it is not," he said.

        KPK is bound by the law in carrying out its tasks. For example, the anti-graft body has to ask permission from the court before it could search a person's quarters. KPK could not investigate a corruption case which did not involve state officials. It could only investigate a case which caused a loss to the state of Rp1 billion and over. "So, how could KPK be a super body?" he said.

        Yudhoyono was reported to have said on Wednesday that a too strong power was dangerous and must not go unchecked. He viewed that KPK had become a super body.

        "In connection with KPK, I have often warned that power must not go unchecked," he said when he visited daily Kompas.

        Chairuman Harahap, a campaign team coordinator of Jusuf Kalla - Wiranto presidential ticket competing Yudhoyono in the upcoming election, said the SBY statement reflected the inconvenience with KPK. "Those in power now feel inconvenient," Harahap said.

        He said that all parties should not worry about the existence and authority of KPK. The anti-graft body was an institution which was established based on the law. "KPK is within the control of the people and the law," Harahap said.

        Yudoyono's success team member Nursyahbani Katjasoengkana said that Yudhoyono had no intention to weaken KPK. The people should look at Yudhoyono's statement in the whole context. His statement, she said, referred to the power in general when he said all powers must not go unchecked. "So, there is no intention to weaken KPK," Katjasoengkana said.

        The BPKP plan to audit KPK is beyond the knowledge of Yudhoyono in his capacity as the president.

        Earlier in the day, several non-governmental organizations urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to reprimand strongly the BPKP chief who would audit the KPK on behalf of the president.

        The NGOs grouped in the Coalition to Save Corruption Eradication Efforts urged the head of state to stop all kinds of efforts to weaken the KPK's authority.

        The NGOs include the Legal Aid Institute (LBH), the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), the Independent Institute for Judiciary, the Consortium of National Law Reform (KRHN), and the Center of Law and Policy Studies. ***4*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/19:45/A014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 27-06-2009 19:55:29

ICW, LAWMAKERS AT ODD OVER ANTI-GRAFT BODY ISSUES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, May 9 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) says that lawmakers must have misinterpreted the law when they questioned the validity of decisions to be taken by the collective leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

        House's Commission III for legal affairs in a meeting on Thursday with KPK asked the collective leadership of the anti-graft body not take principle decisions after the suspension of its chief for alleged involvement in the murder of Nasrudin Zulkarnaen, director of PT Putra Rajawali Banjaran (PRB) last March.

        During the meeting Commission III lawmakers questioned the validity of KPK decisions, particularly those related to investigations and prosecutions because Antasari Azhar, its chief, has been suspended and detained by police on murder charges.

        The anti-graft body has been led by the collective leadership of its four deputies since Antasari Azhar was named a suspect early this month in the murder of Zulkarnaen.

        The lawmakers argued that Article 21 of Law No. 30 / 2002 on KPK stipulated that the KPK leadership consisted of one chairperson and four deputies. Therefore, the KPK should only perform its preventive functions and delay all its enforcement activities, including investigations and prosecutions.

        ICW Coordinator Danang Widoyoko said the lawmakers misinterpreted article 21 of the law which they took as a reason to question the validity of decisions by KPK collective leadership of four deputies.

        "Article 21 of the law basically only stipulates KPK's institutional structure and leadership elements," Danang Widoyoko said on Friday. The article has no direct relations with the decisions of KPK collective leadership as questioned by the lawmakers.

        Commission III member Eva Kusuma Sundari of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDIP) faction, said that the KPK collective leadership which now consisted of only four deputies would face a technical problem in taking a decision.

        "The number chairman and deputies in KPK leadership is made odd in order to smooth a decision making process through voting when it faces a deadlock," she said.

        Lukman Hakim Syarifuddin of the United Development Party (PPP) faction argued that the KPK should not make any principle decisions before the elements of its leadership were completed. This is to avoid a KPK decision with legal flaws.

        He said that KPK should wait for a decision which permanently discharged Antasari Azhar as its chief, or wait for the absence from office of the suspended KPK chief for three-consecutive months.

        The ICW is suspicious why the lawmakers are so aggressive in questioning the validity of KPK collective leadership after its chief Antasari Azhar was suspended in connection with the murder charges.

        The non-governmental organization expressed its rejection of any form of political intervention into the anti-graft body.

        "ICW rejects all forms of political intervention which try to weaken KPK," Danang Widoyoko said.

        He said that there seemed to be other interest of the lawmakers why they were so aggressive to question the validity of the collective leadership decisions.

        The ICW coordinator said that the calls by Commission III members during Thursday's hearing that KPK should delay all forms of investigations until the KPK leadership had complete five members could be categorized as an effort to weaken the anti-graft body.

        "Why don't they let the KPK work as usual and resume its investigation," he said. He called on the four KPK deputies, namely Chandra M Hamzah, Bibit Samad Rianto, Haryono Umar and H Jasin, to continue KPK's agenda in fighting corruption, including investigating an alleged bribery case in the selection of Bank Indonesia's Senior Deputy Miranda Swaray Gultom.

        KPK deputy chairman Bibit Samad Rianto meanwhile said KPK had to remain operating, adding corruption eradication operations could be hindered if the present KPK leaders were not allowed to make decisions.

        On a separate occasion, presidential special staff for legal affairs Denny Indrayana said that actually the problem of vacancy in the KPK chairmanship could be settled internally by the rest four KPK leaders without necessarily conducting selection.

        "I think because KPK is an independent state commission and coincidentally no law regulates the case it is better if we refer it to internal mechanism within KPK so that its independence is safeguarded and operations run smoothly," he said

        House Speaker Agung Laksono also voiced the same thing asking the KPK to continue its investigations without the need to be hindered by the legal case that befell its chairman Antasari Azhar.

        "The House appeals to the KPK leadership to continue its jobs and function as usual," Agung Laksono said.

        He said that he had received a report from Commission III chairman Trimedya Panjaitan on the results of the commission's hearing with KPK on Thursday.

        "We agree to make public the House stance with regard to the matter, namely to ask the KPK to carry out its strategic and important tasks based on the people's mandate in fighting corruption crimes," Agung Laksono aid. ***4*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/12:30/a/f001) (T.A014/A/A014/A/F001) 09-05-2009 12:28:51