ID :
80123
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 00:37
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/80123
The shortlink copeid
News Focus: PUBLIC URGED NOT TO POLITICIZE POLICE GRILLING OF KPK OFFICIALS
By Eliswan Azly
Jakarta, Sept 15 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian public has been asked not to politicize the ongoing grilling of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders by the police in connection with complaints from suspended KPK chairman Antasari Azhar.
Two Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) vice chairmen -Chandra Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto - came to the National Police headquarters on Tuesday to undergo questioning on alleged misuse of their authority.
Minister/State Secretary Hatta Radjasa said here on Tuesday the government was against any effort aimed at reducing the authority of KPK and other law enforcing agencies dealing with corruption eradication.
"We hope all problems are responded to proportionately and not being politicized because we want the institutions to be strong. KPK may not be undermined. No one in the government or in the country wishes to undermine the KPK," he said.
According to Hatta, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had from the beginning never interfered in matters of law enforcement.
"The President wants our institutions to be strong and authoritative both KPK, the police and the prosecutor's office, and also effective in fighting corruption. So the head of state's directives did not cover details on why A was being interrogated. What is banned is power abuse," he said.
When asked if the President would exclusively summon KPK and police leaders to defuse the tension between the two institutions, Hatta said so far there was no schedule for such an initiative.
"I have said many times that corruption eradication and law enforcement are important missions to be implemented by the future SBY-Boediono administration and therefore we want the law enforcing institutions to be strong," he said.
In addition, the President never directed the national police chief with regard to the recent grilling of four anti-graft (KPK) officials, said Hatta.
"Yudhoyono never wishes to interfere in matters of law enforcement," he said, adding the head of state had frequently reiterated not to interfere in any law enforcement cases.
Although the police was under the authority of the President and the KPK officials were being grilled as witnesses in a legal case, it would never slacken the head of state's spirit and commitment to combat corruption.
"Legal matters must never be politicized. Law is what it is," the President was quoted by Hatta as saying.
He stressed President Yudhoyono would in the next five years continue to maintain corruption eradication as one of the main agendas of his administration.
"There is no such thing as reducing the KPK's role. The president has frequently said that corruption eradication will continue to be one of his administration's main agendas in the future. Of the five programs adopted in the vision and mission for his presidential candidacy presented during campaigning, one can see that good governance and law enforcement, for example, have become a priority," he said.
In the meantime, the questioning of two KPK leaders was done by officers from the corruption and white-collar crime unit of the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department.
"It is not a new summons from the police. Today's investigation is a continuation of the questioning on Friday (Sept 11). Therefore, the two KPK deputy chiefs still have the status of witness," KPK spokesperson Johan Budi said.
The police used Article 23 of Law No 31/1999 on corruption eradication, particularly a clause on abuse of authority, as the basis of their questioning, he said.
The police questioned the two KPK officials on the revocation of an overseas travel ban on Anggoro Wirjojo, a businessman, who had been named a suspect in a corruption case.
Before, Chandra and Bibid, along with two other KPK deputy chiefs, namely M Jasin and Haryono Umar, had also come to the National Police Headquarters on Friday (Sept 11). All four were questioned by the police for 10 hours.
On Thursday (Sept 10), the police had also questioned three KPK staffers, namely investigation director Iswan Elmi, chief of legal bureau Chaidir Ramly and investigator Arry Widiatmoko.
The investigation over this case has caused controversy in society. The National Police Headquarters was seen as trying to find any convenient excuse to find fault with the KPK so they could corner the anti-graft body.
KPK officials and police officers should focus on finding substantiated evidence rather than getting involved in a public opinion war, the President's legal advisor, Denny Indrayana, said recently.
The comment was made in response to the recent "psy-war" between officials from both institutions over investigations into the Masaro bribery allegation and the Bank Century fraud case, which were handled by the National Police and the KPK.
The Masaro case allegedly caused state losses of Rp 13 billion (US$1.31 million), while KPK leaders are accused of receiving bribes to stop investigating the case.
"President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expects officials from both institutions to pursue their investigations by finding quality evidence," Denny said. "In the end, the evidence will speak for itself."
Furthermore, he said, the President had also stressed that no matter what happened between the two institutions, they should not abandon corruption investigations. "The recent situation should not interrupt their work rhythm."
Four KPK deputy leaders were grilled over allegations of abusing their authority while handling the Masaro case.
Commenting on the questioning, National Police chief spokesman Insp. Gen. Nanan Soekarna said the KPK leaders had been summoned as witnesses in the Masaro case.
The officials were also questioned about their tardy action in preventing Djoko Chandra from leaving the country, he said.
Djoko, former director of PT Era Giat Prima, is now on the run after the police discovered he was involved in the Bank Bali scandal in the late 1990s.
"Right now they are considered as witnesses, but we will never know what may happen in the future of the investigation," Nanan said.
The KPK officials were interrogated for more than 10 hours at the National Police headquarters.
It was the second time they were summoned by the police. The KPK officials refused to fulfil the first summons, claiming the summons letter as unclear.
Nanan said they would be summoned for the third time next week. ***4***
Jakarta, Sept 15 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian public has been asked not to politicize the ongoing grilling of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders by the police in connection with complaints from suspended KPK chairman Antasari Azhar.
Two Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) vice chairmen -Chandra Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto - came to the National Police headquarters on Tuesday to undergo questioning on alleged misuse of their authority.
Minister/State Secretary Hatta Radjasa said here on Tuesday the government was against any effort aimed at reducing the authority of KPK and other law enforcing agencies dealing with corruption eradication.
"We hope all problems are responded to proportionately and not being politicized because we want the institutions to be strong. KPK may not be undermined. No one in the government or in the country wishes to undermine the KPK," he said.
According to Hatta, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had from the beginning never interfered in matters of law enforcement.
"The President wants our institutions to be strong and authoritative both KPK, the police and the prosecutor's office, and also effective in fighting corruption. So the head of state's directives did not cover details on why A was being interrogated. What is banned is power abuse," he said.
When asked if the President would exclusively summon KPK and police leaders to defuse the tension between the two institutions, Hatta said so far there was no schedule for such an initiative.
"I have said many times that corruption eradication and law enforcement are important missions to be implemented by the future SBY-Boediono administration and therefore we want the law enforcing institutions to be strong," he said.
In addition, the President never directed the national police chief with regard to the recent grilling of four anti-graft (KPK) officials, said Hatta.
"Yudhoyono never wishes to interfere in matters of law enforcement," he said, adding the head of state had frequently reiterated not to interfere in any law enforcement cases.
Although the police was under the authority of the President and the KPK officials were being grilled as witnesses in a legal case, it would never slacken the head of state's spirit and commitment to combat corruption.
"Legal matters must never be politicized. Law is what it is," the President was quoted by Hatta as saying.
He stressed President Yudhoyono would in the next five years continue to maintain corruption eradication as one of the main agendas of his administration.
"There is no such thing as reducing the KPK's role. The president has frequently said that corruption eradication will continue to be one of his administration's main agendas in the future. Of the five programs adopted in the vision and mission for his presidential candidacy presented during campaigning, one can see that good governance and law enforcement, for example, have become a priority," he said.
In the meantime, the questioning of two KPK leaders was done by officers from the corruption and white-collar crime unit of the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department.
"It is not a new summons from the police. Today's investigation is a continuation of the questioning on Friday (Sept 11). Therefore, the two KPK deputy chiefs still have the status of witness," KPK spokesperson Johan Budi said.
The police used Article 23 of Law No 31/1999 on corruption eradication, particularly a clause on abuse of authority, as the basis of their questioning, he said.
The police questioned the two KPK officials on the revocation of an overseas travel ban on Anggoro Wirjojo, a businessman, who had been named a suspect in a corruption case.
Before, Chandra and Bibid, along with two other KPK deputy chiefs, namely M Jasin and Haryono Umar, had also come to the National Police Headquarters on Friday (Sept 11). All four were questioned by the police for 10 hours.
On Thursday (Sept 10), the police had also questioned three KPK staffers, namely investigation director Iswan Elmi, chief of legal bureau Chaidir Ramly and investigator Arry Widiatmoko.
The investigation over this case has caused controversy in society. The National Police Headquarters was seen as trying to find any convenient excuse to find fault with the KPK so they could corner the anti-graft body.
KPK officials and police officers should focus on finding substantiated evidence rather than getting involved in a public opinion war, the President's legal advisor, Denny Indrayana, said recently.
The comment was made in response to the recent "psy-war" between officials from both institutions over investigations into the Masaro bribery allegation and the Bank Century fraud case, which were handled by the National Police and the KPK.
The Masaro case allegedly caused state losses of Rp 13 billion (US$1.31 million), while KPK leaders are accused of receiving bribes to stop investigating the case.
"President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expects officials from both institutions to pursue their investigations by finding quality evidence," Denny said. "In the end, the evidence will speak for itself."
Furthermore, he said, the President had also stressed that no matter what happened between the two institutions, they should not abandon corruption investigations. "The recent situation should not interrupt their work rhythm."
Four KPK deputy leaders were grilled over allegations of abusing their authority while handling the Masaro case.
Commenting on the questioning, National Police chief spokesman Insp. Gen. Nanan Soekarna said the KPK leaders had been summoned as witnesses in the Masaro case.
The officials were also questioned about their tardy action in preventing Djoko Chandra from leaving the country, he said.
Djoko, former director of PT Era Giat Prima, is now on the run after the police discovered he was involved in the Bank Bali scandal in the late 1990s.
"Right now they are considered as witnesses, but we will never know what may happen in the future of the investigation," Nanan said.
The KPK officials were interrogated for more than 10 hours at the National Police headquarters.
It was the second time they were summoned by the police. The KPK officials refused to fulfil the first summons, claiming the summons letter as unclear.
Nanan said they would be summoned for the third time next week. ***4***
