KPK Questions Bupati's OTT: It Doesn't Mean That the Governor's Level Doesn't Exist

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said that the hand-in-hand operation (OTT) was not arbitrary. There must be strong evidence to ensnare someone, including regional heads.

This was conveyed by Deputy Chairman of the KPK Fitroh Rohcahyanto when asked about the reason why OTT mostly arrested the regent or mayor, not the governor or higher officials. He said that silent operations usually started with complaints from the community.

"It happens that the report that is accompanied by sufficient instructions or strong evidence is coincidentally at the level of the regent," said Fitroh at a press conference at the KPK Merah Putih, Kuningan Persada, which was quoted on Friday, July 31.

This condition is what then made the KPK move to carry out OTT at the level of regent and mayor. "It doesn't mean that at the Governor's level there is none. There are also," said Fitroh.

"It's just that the evidence to be able to make an arrest is not enough. Because the KPK also cannot carry out law enforcement arbitrarily. It must still be based on the adequacy of evidence. Don't let us carry out law enforcement but violate the law," he continued.

Fitroh also denied allegations that his agency protected regional heads at certain levels. "So it doesn't mean we protect the Governor or protect people who we should try to force but we don't. So it depends on the adequacy of evidence," he said.

Furthermore, Fitroh, who is in charge of the KPK's Enforcement and Execution Department, has actually often asked about OTT which only arrests regents and mayors. But, again, he ensured that a silent operation could not be carried out carelessly.

"I also asked the Deputy (KPK Enforcement and Execution, ed) and Dirlid (KPK Investigation Director, ed), 'why does the Regent continue this?' like that," he said.

As previously reported, the KPK has held 12 OTTs and seven of them have ensnared regional heads by mid-year. This number has increased significantly compared to the previous year, which only had two silent operations until June.

The 12 OTT carried out by the KPK took place in a number of regions, including the Pati Regency Government, Madiun, Pekalongan, Rejang Lebong, Cilacap, Tulungagung, and Muara Enim.

Then the silent operation targeted the Tax Service Office (KPP) of Jakarta, the Banjarmasin Pratama KPP, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, the Depok District Court, and the Ministry of Immigration and Correction.