JOKOWI ASKS PEOPLE TO WAIT FOR DECISION ON NEW POLICE CHIEF

Jakarta, Jan 16 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi asks people to wait for his decision on who will fill in the position as new Police Chief. Earlier the members of House Representatives (DPR) had conducted a plenary session which resulted into their approval on Budi Gunawan's nomination as Police Chief. "I have received the letter from the House of Representatives this morning. Please be patient and wait for my announcement," said Jokowi. Earlier Jokowi announced Commissioner General Budi Gunawan as the only candidate for the new Police Chief. The announcement sparks controversy as several days after the announcement, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Budi Gunawan as suspect in bribery case. "Commissioner General BG (Budi Gunawan) has been named suspect for allegedly receiving commitments when he headed the Police Headquarters` Career Planning Bureau in 2003-2006 and other posts in the police," KPK's Chairman Abraham Samad said. According to Abraham, Budi Gunawan allegedly violated Article 12 (A/B); Article 5 (2); and Article 11 or 12, (B), of Law No.31/1999 juncto Law No.20/2001 on corruption eradication juncto Article 55 (1) of Criminal Code. The articles regulate that no civil servant or state official should receive gratifications or commitments from any party or individual who is related to a civil servant or holds a state official`s post. Budi Gunawan can get life imprisonment or four to 20 years in jail and a fine of at least Rp200 million (Rp1 billion) if he is found guilty of violating the articles, Samad stated. He, however, refused to reveal Budi Gunawan`s bank balance. Investigators with the anti-graft body have been examining Budi Gunawan`s track record as a state official since July 2014. They got two credible evidences that helped them further investigate the case on January 12, 2015, Samad revealed. Commissioner General Budi Gunawan has been nominated by President Joko Widodo as the sole candidate to replace General Sutarman as national police chief.