The KPK Supervisory Board, Which Is Now More Like Firli Bahuri's Attorney

JAKARTA - The Supervisory Board of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is back in the spotlight. They are now considered to have transformed into attorneys for the Chairperson of the KPK, Firli Bahuri.

This assumption was conveyed by Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) after Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean Cs stated that they would not process reports related to Firli's alleged ethical violations.

This report was made because the former Deputy for Enforcement of the KPK was suspected of violating ethics by accepting gratuities in the form of helicopter rentals to Baturaja, South Sumatra.

Based on information obtained by ICW, the rental price for the Eurocopter (EC) helicopter, code PK-JTO, which Firli was traveling in reached around Rp. 39 million per hour. There are indications that Firli lied because she said the price was Rp. 7 million per hour.

"ICW thinks that the KPK Supervisory Board is no longer acting as a supervisory agency but has transformed into Firli Bahuri's attorney," said ICW researcher Kurnia Ramadhana in a statement, Friday, July 2.

Kurnia said that from the start the report submitted by ICW was different from the decision that had been read out previously. At that time, Firli was declared to have violated the code of ethics when using a helicopter to Baturaja, South Sumatra.

"Our report targets the receipt of payment for the helicopter rental which is suspected to be fake. Meanwhile, the previous decision was related to Firli's luxurious lifestyle. So obviously those are two different things," he said.

Kurnia also believes that the supervisory board should not reject the report submitted by ICW. Moreover, it is mentioned that the honest behavior of KPK personnel is one thing that can be reported to the supervisory board as regulated in Article 4 paragraph (1) letter a of the Dewas Regulation Number 2 of 2020.

"Therefore, in the report, we explain the problem, especially regarding the alleged discount that Firli received when renting a helicopter and was not reported to the gratification department within 30 days," he said.

"Therefore, in the report, we explain the problems, especially regarding the alleged discount that Firli obtained when renting a helicopter and was not reported to the gratuity department within 30 days," he added.

A member of the KPK Supervisory Board, Syamsuddin Haris, said that his party would not process the ICW report because the decision regarding Firli's ethical violation while boarding a helicopter was knocked down in 2020.

At that time, Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean et al gave light sanctions to Firli. Thus, there is no longer any reason for the KPK Supervisory Board to investigate the alleged ethical violation.

"The case of Mr. FB's helicopter (Firli Bahuri) has been completed and was decided by the Dewas last year," Haris told reporters, Wednesday, June 30.

In addition, he also advised ICW to report Firli through the Directorate of Public Complaints (Dumas) of the KPK. The reason is that the KPK Supervisory Board does not have the authority to handle criminal cases such as gratuities.

"Allegations of gratification can be reported to the Directorate of Public Complaints of the KPK. The Council has no authority in criminal cases," he concluded.

*Read other information about the KPK or read other interesting articles from Wardhany Tsa Tsia.