SP/Novianti Setuningsih, Jakarta – Indonesia's outspoken House of Representatives speaker Marzuki Alie accused the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) of political cherry-picking in its decision to seek a travel ban against a senior member of the ruling Democratic Party – the usual precursor for naming an individual a suspect in a corruption case.

Marzuki, himself a top Democrat, said in Jakarta on Monday that the timing by the KPK, less than two months before the April 9 legislative election, was highly suspicious. "We respect the law, go ahead, but we hope the KPK isn't being biased or politicizing [the matter] ahead of the election," he said.

The KPK last week successfully had a travel ban imposed on Sutan Bhatoegana, the chairman of House Commission VII, which oversees energy, in connection with a bribery case involving Rudi Rubiandini, the former head of the country's upstream oil and gas regulator, SKKMigas.

Rudi, accused of taking bribes from a Singapore-based oil trading company, has testified at his trial that he was compelled to do so after Sutan demanded $200,000 in kickbacks from him.

Marzuki, in defending his party colleague, said the KPK should focus on resolving outstanding cases rather than starting new lines of inquiry.

"Better not to add [new cases] for this whole month as it might give the impression that the KPK is playing a part in politics, which could be dangerous," he said.

"I hope our friends at the KPK understand this. Back when they were running to become leaders of the KPK, they were all friendly with [House] politicians, and now they're all uppity."

Sutan said separately that he had been told by Syarif Hasan, the Democrats' executive chairman, not to comment on the case. A travel ban is typically issued before the KPK names an individual a suspect.