Ina Parlina, Jakarta – Amid increasing public distrust of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the agency says it has been left with no choice but to set up an independent fact finding team to investigate the repeated allegations by a fugitive corruption suspect claiming that its top officials were also involved in bribery scandals.
Speaking to The Jakarta Post on Sunday, prominent lawyer and human rights and corruption activist Todung Mulya Lubis pointed out that Nazaruddin's accusations should be seriously addressed, and therefore the KPK decision to set up its own investigation team is against public demands, said Todung.
According to Todung, who has been nominated more than once for the attorney general's position, Nazaruddin's allegation has not been proven yet, and "the KPK needs to verify the allegation through an independent and transparent probe".
Todung appreciated the KPK's quick response to public criticism for lifting questionable names from the inquiry team, but it was not able to restore the tarnished image of the KPK because most of the team members have confronted challenges regarding their credibility.
"It's good having two more experts from outside KPK, but it's not enough. Remember that Sjahruddin is a former KPK deputy chief, so he is still affiliated with the KPK," Todung noted.
A KPK advisor disclosed the commission would likely oust its chief Busyro Muqoddas and its deputy Haryono Umar from an ethics board – formed to investigate former Democratic Party treasurer Nazaruddin – as the board will also question Busyro and Haryono.
"Both Busyro and Haryono perhaps will not be allowed to join the board because our inquiry is also targeting them," a member or the team, Said Zainal Abidin told the Post on Sunday.
"However, we have yet to reach a decision; we are still discussing it and considering inputs coming from the public that we need a more independent ethics team."
Said insisted the move is considered as a part of efforts to maintain KPK independence. Many people insisted the majority of the ethics board's members – or the investigation team – should have been appointed from outside the commission.
In a recent television interview, Nazaruddin accused several KPK officials of meeting with him to discuss influencing its corruption investigations, including deputy chairman Chandra M. Hamzah, enforcement deputy Insp. Gen. Ade Rahardja, spokesman Johan Budi and investigator Adj. Sr. Comr. Roni Samtana. Nazaruddin also cited another KPK official, Mochammad Jasin.
"I believe there will be two new members from outside the KPK and we will likely drop the KPK insiders," Said noted.