Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – Anti-graft activists filed an information dispute case with the Central Information Commission (KIP) on Thursday against the National Police in connection with large bank accounts allegedly belonging to several police generals.

Indonesia Corruption Watch's Agus Sunaryanto said the police institution had violated the 2008 Law on Freedom of Information for refusing to disclose data concerning the suspicious assets. "The police themselves have announced that, out of the 23 bank accounts reportedly suspicious by the PPATK [Financial Transaction Analysis and Report Center], 17 are not problematic. Then the data is not supposed to be classified," Agus said.

The Information Law stipulates that bank account data are not considered confidential if they concern state officials. Agus said ICW had asked the National Police for the data about the fat bank accounts in August but two days later the police rejected the request.

"We have filed a second request but they haven't responded it until today. That's why we filed this case with KIP," Agus said.

The police argued that the anti-money laundering law prevented them from disclosing personal information about individuals' bank accounts.

KIP chairman Ahmad Alamsyah Saragih said the commission would study the case and summon police representatives for clarification. "Within 14 days, we will decide whether this case should go to mediation for settlement," he said.

The police have announced that of the 23 personal bank accounts under investigation, 17 have been cleared of all suspicion. However, the police have not identified the account holders or details of the investigation.