Assessed As Threatening Independence, KPK Is Asked To Investigate 'Insider' Allegations Of Azis Syamsuddin

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has been asked to thoroughly investigate allegations of 'insiders' to secure the case of former Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Azis Syamsuddin. Researcher from the Center for Anti-Corruption Studies (Pukat) Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Zainur Rahman believes this is important because it affects the independence of the anti-corruption commission.

"The KPK must seriously investigate because this means that there is a threat to the independence of the KPK from outsiders who can control the KPK," Zainur told reporters quoted on Thursday, October 7.

According to him, the information obtained from the trial of former KPK investigator Stepanus Robin Pattuju should have been investigated further by the anti-corruption commission. This full and thorough investigation is very important, said Zainur, considering that such allegations are dangerous for the KPK.

"If this information is ignored, it can further increase public suspicion that it is true that the KPK can be controlled by external parties," he said.

The investigation into the alleged 'insider' of Azis Syamsuddin can be carried out by conducting an internal investigation. It aims to trace the whereabouts of the unknown eight people.

One way that can be done, continued Zainur, is that the KPK traces Azis' communications. In addition, investigators from the anti-corruption commission are also considered to be able to trace communications made by Stepanus with the former Deputy Chairperson of the Golkar Party.

In fact, the KPK felt the need to audit cases that Stepanus had handled at any level in order to track down the whereabouts of other Azis accomplices. This method, according to him, can also help track down the whereabouts of these individuals.

"From the outset, there have been questions about whether it is true that Stepanus has moved alone to handle major cases, that must be investigated further by the KPK," said Zainur.

In addition, the KPK must not use Stepanus' objections regarding the existence of 'insiders' Azis Syamsuddin internally as a guide and do nothing. "Because he is in the position of being charged, so he must defend himself and the people involved," he said.

As previously reported, information regarding the presence of insiders to protect Azis Syamsuddin was revealed during a hearing at the Corruption Court on Monday, October 4 yesterday. At that time, the KPK prosecutor read out the police investigation report (BAP) belonging to the Regional Secretary Tanjungbalai Yusmada who was presented as a witness for the defendant Stepanus.

In the BAP, Yusmada said that he heard from the Mayor of Tanjungbalai, M Syahrial, that Azis Syamsuddin had eight people in the KPK who could be mobilized to secure the case against him. One of them is Stepanus Robin Pattuju while the other is not mentioned.