Finding 8 'Insiders' Azis Syamsuddin At The KPK Can Be Started By Examining Baswedan's Novel

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has promised to investigate the alleged presence of eight 'insiders' who arrested former Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Azis Syamsuddin. This promise was made after it became a polemic which was considered to be a threat to the independence of the KPK.

This allegation first appeared in the trial of former KPK investigator, Stepanus Robin Pattuju, who was charged with accepting bribes to handle five corruption cases at the anti-corruption commission and one of them came from Azis Syamsuddin.

During the trial which was held on Monday, October 4 yesterday, the public prosecutor had time to read the Minutes of Investigation (BAP) belonging to the Regional Secretary Tanjungbalai Yusmada. In the file, it is stated that Azis has eight accomplices who are ready to help him escape corruption cases handled by the KPK, one of them is Stepanus Robin.

In response to this, the Deputy Chairperson of the KPK, Nurul Ghufron, said that the evidence for the existence of the eight people in the former Deputy Chairperson of the Golkar Party was still weak. Moreover, the statement emerged from the confession of others.

"It's still a testimony de audito, which means it's not a testimony but conveys someone else's statement that AZ has eight insiders," Ghufron told reporters at the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Friday, October 8.

Even so, the KPK will continue to dismantle the allegations and follow up on any available information. Including, the information revealed in the Minutes of Investigation (BAP) belonging to the Regional Secretary (Sekda) of Tanjungbalai City Yusmada.

"All information regarding the alleged violation will certainly be followed up. So that there is information about eight subordinates or insiders, of course then we will follow up if it can be proven," said Ghufron.

"Of course, once again, the KPK is committed to dismantling it all," he added.

It is this promise that the KPK should then fulfill. Moreover, researcher at the Center for Anti-Corruption Studies (Pukat) of Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Zainur Rahman assessed that the investigation of the information was important because it affected 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.

All information related to the existence of 'insider' Azis Syamsuddin at the KPK, he continued, must be investigated further by 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.

Zainur said this investigation could be carried out by conducting an internal investigation. It aims to trace the whereabouts of eight people whose noses are unknown.

Not only that, the KPK feels the need to audit cases that have been handled by Stepanus at any level in order to track down the whereabouts of other Azis accomplices. This method, according to him, can also help track the whereabouts of the individuals in question.

"From the start, there were questions whether it was true that Stepanus had moved alone to handle major cases, that had to be investigated further by the KPK," said Zainur.

Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) Boyamin Saiman assessed that the KPK and the KPK Supervisory Board could first move to examine the former investigator, Novel Baswedan. Moreover, he had admitted to knowing who was Azis Syamsuddin's reinforcements in the anti-corruption commission.

"Dewas and the KPK are obligated to examine Novel for indications that there are eight people who are considered a rescue team or who can be controlled by Azis Syamsuddin in accordance with their interests," Boyamin told reporters, Thursday, October 7.

Not only that, the KPK needs to explore the information at the trial by examining the Regional Secretary Tanjungbalai Yusmada and his former investigator who became the accused recipient of bribes related to the handling of the case, Stepanus Robin Pattuju.

Boyamin also reminded the KPK and the Council to actively seek evidence and facts about the whereabouts of the messenger. The reason is that it is impossible for people outside the KPK to carry out tracking in order to have sufficient evidence regarding the allegations that occurred within the institution.

"This is a bad attitude and must be stopped. It is the same as expecting corruption eradication from public reports. Yes, it is impossible for the community to have evidence of corruption. It is the KPK that has the wiretapping tool that must prove itself," he concluded.

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