Hans Nicholas Jong and Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – A rift within the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) leadership has widened with commissioners making contradictory statements on a document that names Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum a graft suspect.
Only one day after the KPK formed a team to investigate the leak, KPK commissioner Adnan Pandu Praja made a surprise announcement that the document was authentic. On Wednesday, Adnan said that he had signed the draft of a letter resembling the leaked document, ordering the start of the investigation into Anas' role in a graft case.
A copy of the document obtained by The Jakarta Post, shows Adnan was indeed one of three KPK commissioners to sign it, along with KPK chairman Abraham Samad and deputy chair Zulkarnain. Spaces for the signatures of deputy chairs Bambang Widjojanto and Busyro Muqoddas remained blank.
The document states that Anas is named a suspect for receiving a gratuity in the form of a Toyota Harrier while still a member of the House of Representatives.
Graft convict Muhammad Nazaruddin claims that the car was a gift from PT Adhi Karya to Anas when it won the tender for the construction of the Rp 1.17 trillion (US$121.4 million) Hambalang sports complex.
While Adnan did not comment on the authenticity of the leaked document, he said that the draft letter he signed was an official document. "The draft was on my desk late on Thursday, stating that there had been a case presentation on a certain date," he said.
"But I withdrew my signature on Friday morning after finding out that the KPK had not in fact held a case presentation attended by all the commissioners, as required."
A source within the KPK said that there had actually been a case presentation on Thursday last week but only in the presence of three commissioners: Abraham, Adnan and Zulkarnain. Bambang said earlier this week that the presentation would only take place next Monday.
"The amount of the gratuity was too small for the KPK to handle. We need heavier charges for Anas. We need to dig deeper," Adnan said. A brand new Toyota Harrier starts at Rp 735 million. The Corruption Law only allows the KPK to investigate cases worth more than Rp 1 billion.
Speculation is rife that the letter was leaked to put pressure on the KPK to move swiftly against Anas. On the day the letter was leaked, Democratic Party chief patron Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono relieved Anas of his day-to-day duties. Yudhoyono responded on Wednesday to the allegation that his inner circle was behind the leak.
Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said, "For the sake of truth and justice, as well as to uphold the dignity of the palace and the KPK, the President sincerely hopes that the KPK will conduct a transparent, serious and thorough investigation into the leak," Julian said. "They should cooperate with the police, if necessary."