Jakarta – Several cases centering on leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have greatly influenced its performance in probing major cases, especially highly political ones, experts say.
The first case involves KPK chairman Antasari Azhar, who was arrested on charges of murdering businessman Nasruddin Zulkarnaen on May 2 last year. Later, within the month, Antasari testified to police and prosecutors that four KPK deputies as well as officials had received bribes from Anggoro Widjojo, the director of PT Masaro investigated by KPK for a bribery case he committed to secure his telecommunication procurement project at the Forestry Ministry.
KPK investigation into the Bank Century bailout led two KPK deputies to another case involving former National Police chief detective Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji. Susno accused the KPK of tapping his mobile phone, which showed his request to businessman Boedi Sampoerna to pay Rp 10 billion due to his assistance in clearing Budi's savings in Century.
On Sept. 15, police declared two KPK deputies Bibit Samad Riyanto and Chandra M. Hamzah suspects for abuse of power due to the travel ban on Anggoro and several days later, both reported Susno to the police for abuse of power.
Hasril Hertanto, a legal expert from the University of Indonesia, said the cases centering on KPK leaders had affected the stability of the anticorruption body, making it unable to take clear measures of political corruption cases such as the Century bailout of Rp 6.76 trillion (US$716 million) and the alleged bribe around the election of the former Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor Miranda S. Goeltom.
"Antasari, Bibit and Chandra are influential figures in the execution and litigation. Their absence in the KPK raises questions about who is to legitimate investigators and prosecutors in continuing to probe the cases," he said.
According to Hasril, with its authority, the KPK should have been able to tackle the two cases. "I believe with its personnel capacity and its great authority, the KPK can handle big cases. These factors make the KPK different from the police or the attorney," he said.
However, Hasril continued, the KPK needed new figures for its internal consolidation.
Eryanto Nugroho, Center for Indonesian Law and Policy Studies executive director, shared a similar view with Hasril that the change in KPK leaders was highly influential to its performance. "But, we can still count on the KPK to make a breakthrough, including handling cases like that of Miranda. The public should keep supporting the KPK," he said.
Eryanto added the President was expected to show his commitment on corruption eradication by halting the criminalization of KPK leaders. "Whoever leads KPK will not succeed in eradicating corruption unless the government and law enforcers support its commitment," he said.
The case involving Miranda first emerged at the end of 2008. She allegedly handed over 400 traveler's checks of Rp 50 million each to legislators soon after her election as Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor in June 2004.
Recently, several former members of the House of Representatives, namely, Hamka Yandhu of the Golkar Party, Endin J. Soefihara from the United Development Party (PPP), Dudhie Makmun Murod from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Udju Juhaeri from the now defunct police/military faction, have been sentenced due to the case.
However, the investigation of the KPK has not moved into taking measures against the parties giving and channeling the checks. KPK, through its spokesman Johan Budi, on Wednesday said it planned to hold an expose, a prelude prior to a full-blown investigation into a case, that day. However, up to Friday, the KPK had not carried it out. (lnd)