Jakarta – After prohibiting state officials from accepting wedding gifts, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) also plans to forbid officials from receiving parcels valued at more than Rp 500,000 (US$54).
KPK deputy chairman overseeing prevention, Haryono, said Friday the policy would come into effect soon after all KPK officials signed a regulation forbidding state workers from accepting "excessive" gifts that could be seen as rewards for corrupt actions.
"Another policy is that no officials are allowed to accept cash gifts of more than Rp 1 million at either wedding or birthday parties," he said.
Haryono said officials were told to report to the KPK if they accepted such gifts, and the graft body would set aside gifts that should go to the state. "If they accept a parcel worth more than Rp 500,000, it must be returned to the state," he said.
Former women's empowerment minister Erna Witoelar said Thursday that she handed over some Rp 70 million in wedding gifts for her son to the KPK because of the regulation.
Haryono said the officials would allow 30 days to assess whether the gifts were considered bribes. "We will advise all institutions and enact the regulation this month," he said.
Introducing the regulation is important to assure legal certainty for officials, he said.
Under Article 12 of the 2001 law on corruption, a state official can be sentenced to between four years and life imprisonment, or fined between Rp 200 million to Rp 1 billion if he or she is proven to have accepted any rewards or gifts.
The KPK first implemented the regulation in 2006 when then chairman Taufiequrrachman Ruki asked the president to forbid government officials from accepting Idul Fitri, Christmas or New Year gift parcels, including flowers, from subordinates, colleagues and business partners.
Haryono said he hoped it would gradually prevent corruption in society. "Many employees look for 'sympathy' if they give excessive gifts to their boss, while in fact this could be seen as giving them payment for something," he said. (ewd)