Jokowi Shouts Stopping E-KTP Corruption Cases To Agus Rahardjo, UGM Pukat Considers President To Be Obstructing Investigations

JAKARTA - Researcher at the Center for Anti-Corruption Studies (Pukat) of the Faculty of Law, Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Zaenur Rohman said that no one can ask law enforcement to stop investigating criminal acts. This kind of step is actually a form of obstructing the course of investigation or obstruction of justice.

This was conveyed by Zaenur in response to the statement of former KPK Chairman Agus Rahardjo who had been scolded by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the State Palace, Jakarta. He was shouted at to stop the investigation into the alleged corruption in the procurement of e-KTP involving former Chairman of the Indonesian Parliament Setya Novanto.

"There is no sat upun of the party or official authorized to ask for the termination of the case," Zaenur told reporters, Saturday, December 2.

"If there are parties who ask for the termination of the case, even followed by actions, actions that can interfere with the course of the investigation can be included in the obstruction of Justice category as stipulated in Article 21 of the Anti-Corruption Law or commonly referred to as obstructing investigations," he continued.

Zaenur also called Jokowi's actions unusual. This is because he intervened with the anti-corruption commission, which at that time was subject to any power because the law had not yet been revised.

It is known, KPK Law Number 30 of 2012 states that the anti-corruption commission is an independent institution. Meanwhile, after being revised to the KPK Law 19 of 2019, the KPK was under the executive family.

"So it is a form of intervention. When power intervenes with the KPK, it is also a form of abuse of power by the president," he said.

Zaenur said this condition was proof of the chaotic effort to eradicate corruption in the era of President Jokowi. Moreover, there are allegations that the revision of the KPK law occurred because Agus Rahardjo did not comply with the orders of the head of state.

"We have picked up an increasing situation in Indonesia. In 2022 Indonesia's Corruption Perception Index (CPI) is 34. It was exactly the same as 2014 when President Jokowi first took office. This means that during the last nine years, President Jokowi finally had zero achievements in eradicating corruption," he explained.

Agus Rahardjo bluntly revealed that he had been summoned by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the State Palace, Jakarta. It was later discovered that he was asked to stop the corruption case in the procurement of e-KTP which dragged former DPR Speaker Setya Novanto.

In Kompas TV's YouTube show, Agus said he had never revealed this incident. Initially, Rosiana Silalahi as the host asked whether or not the KPK's efforts were used as power tools and Agus said that he had been summoned alone before Jokowi when the investigation into the e-KTP corruption case was carried out.

"When my e-KTP case was summoned alone by the President and at that time accompanied by Pak Pratikno (Minister of State Secretary). I am surprised that I usually call the five of them alone," Agus said in a broadcast quoted on Friday, December 1.

His arrival also seemed quiet because Agus did not pass in front of the reporters' room. "But through the door near the small mosque," he said.

When he entered the room, Agus found President Jokowi raging. "The president is already angry, wants it, because only then did I enter he had shouted'stop'. I wonder what was stopped," he said.

After sitting down, Agus received an explanation that Jokowi's statement was to stop the e-KTP case that dragged the name of Setya Novanto, who served as Chairman of the DPR. However, Agus said this could not be done because the investigation warrant (sprindik) had been issued.

Agus admitted that he did not care about President Jokowi's tantrum. He continued because when the KPK Law had not been revised, this institution was not directly under the head of state.