Jakarta – A human rights group has castigated the House of Representatives for its reaction to a recent Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) raid of the legislature in search of graft-related evidence.

Human rights advocacy group Setara Institute chair Hendardi said House Deputy Speaker Fahri Hamzah had overreacted to the raid.

"The KPK need not answer the House's summons, since it breached no laws. The substance of corruption cases should take precedence over technicalities in search procedures," Hendardi said on Wednesday in Jakarta.

Last week, the KPK searched the office of legislator and House Commission V member Damayanti Vishnu Putranti, who had been named a graft suspect; on the same occasion, and without a clear warrant to do so, KPK investigators conducted additional searches of the offices of Golkar Party politician Budi Supriyanto and Commission V deputy chairman Yudi Widiana of Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

During the search, Fahri, also a member of the PKS protested that the search was "in contempt of the legislature" because the KPK had brought in armed personnel from the police's elite Mobile Brigade (Brimob).

Fahri asked the KPK to send away the Brimob officers, sparking an argument that was recorded and subsequently went viral on social media. A few days later, the House sent a letter asking the KPK to come to the House to discuss search procedures.

KPK spokesperson Yuyuk Andriati said the commission was prepared to meet House representatives to explain standard search procedures, stressing that there had been no deviation from the process.

"[Being accompanied by] fully armed Brimob officers is standard procedure, and is intended to secure the search process as well as maintain order," Yuyuk said on Thursday as quoted by Tribunnews.com.

The presence of armed Brimob officers during a search was, she added, in accordance with the law as stipulated in articles 127 and 128 of the Criminal Law Procedures Code (KUHAP). (liz/ags)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/01/21/KPK-should-ignore-house-protest-over-raid.html