How Vital Is Azis's Role In Firli's Appointment And Firli's Role In Azis' Detention

KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri at a press conference for the detention of Azis Syamsuddin at the Merah Putih Building (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Azis Syamsuddin, has been detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). He was previously named a suspect and was forcibly picked up. The important moments of Azis' legal process were announced directly by Firli Bahuri, the Chairman of the KPK who was appointed by Azis himself. How vital is Azis' role in Firli's appointment?

On Friday night, September 24, the KPK forcibly picked up Azis from his home in South Jakarta. The forced pick-up was announced by Firli to reporters. "AS has been identified. His house has been found," said Firli at the time.

Before being picked up forcibly, Azis was absent from his first scheduled examination as a suspect at the KPK on Friday afternoon. Through a letter, Azis admitted that he was undergoing self-isolation after interacting with people who were declared exposed to COVID-19.

As mentioned by Firli, the KPK then checked Azis' condition and made sure he was non-reactive. Azis was then taken to the Merah Putih Building. Arriving at the KPK, Azis was seen wearing a long-sleeved batik shirt and a mask. Azis made no statement.

Azis Syamsuddin upon arrival at the KPK (Wardhany Tsa Tsia/VOI)

A few hours later, past midnight, the KPK held a press conference regarding the detention and status of the suspect Azis. It was Firli who reappeared, this time with Azis who was wearing an orange vest, a sign of stealing state money.

For the next 20 days, from September 24 to October 13, 2021, Azis will be detained at the South Jakarta Police's State Detention Center (Rutan). "After the investigators examined the witnesses, there were approximately 20 witnesses and this was confirmed by evidence, the investigation team made arrests of the suspect," said Firli as the day entered Saturday, September 25.

Azis appoints Firli as KPK chairman

Just so you know, Azis's role was vital in the appointment of Firli. At that time, Azis was still the chairman of Commission III of the DPR. Reporting from various sources, on the evening of September 12 to September 13, 2019, the KPK chose the names of five KPK leaders through voting.

Before voting, Commission III held a closed meeting for 30 minutes. The voting scheme was agreed at around 23.40 western Indonesia time. The voting results then determined the names of Firli, Alexander Marwata, Nurul Ghufron, Lili Pintauli Siregar, and Nawawi Pomolango.

Azis who then set the rules of the game in voting. In that election, 56 members of Commission III of the DPR wrote down the five candidates for leadership of the KPK of their choice on the ballot paper. Then, the members must also write one more name that they want to be the Chair of the KPK.

In addition to setting the rules of the game, Azis, who at that time acted as chairman of the meeting, was also tasked with guiding the voting. "The mechanism is that our parents choose five out of ten, it is mandatory. If anyone chooses six, we will declare it void," said Azis before the voting began at 00.15 western Indonesia time.

Voting on Firli's appointment in Commission III of the DPR (Mery Handayani/VOI)

The voting results put Firli as a candidate for KPK leadership with the most votes, which is 56 votes. Under Firli was Alexander with 53 votes, Nurul (51 votes), Pomolango (50), and Lili (44). After that, Azis explained the procedure for determining the chairman of the KPK.

Firli's name was also elected as the Chair of the KPK for the 2019-2023 period. At that time Firli was still an active South Sumatran Police Chief. Firli's election was greeted with loud applause. At that time, Azis also expressed his gratitude for all the input regarding the election of the KPK leadership.

Azis also commented lightly on the pros and cons of choosing KPK leaders in his thanks. Azis then got up from his seat and greeted the deputy chairman of Commission III of the DPR and a number of meeting participants, including KPK leaders and Firli, of course.

"Based on discussions and deliberation, all the factions present, attended by the head of the office and representatives of the factions agreed to serve as chairman of the KPK Chair for the 2019-2023 term as the first chairman, Firli Bahuri," Azis said before the meeting ended.

Controversy about Firli's appointment as KPK Chair

KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri (Source: Antara)

Azis, of course, risked a lot back then. Firli's appointment to the KPK was not without controversy. The winds of rejection were strongly voiced, both by anti-corruption activists, NGOs, students, academics, and even hundreds of KPK employees themselves.

Anti-corruption activist, Saor Siagian at that time revealed that there were at least 500 KPK employees who rejected Firli. This figure is known from the petition rejecting Firli which was signed by KPK employees. Since that figure came out, Saor immediately warned the selection committee for the KPK leadership candidates.

"I imagine I can vote, this is not just 200 but 500. Perhaps this is a message to the Pansel whether he will choose the person who will be rejected, it's up to you. But these are the roles we can play as the public," said Saor in the KPK Channel Discussion, Wednesday 28 August 2019.

Pansel ignored. Firli still passed the fit and proper test. The Pansel responded to the refusal on the grounds that they could not always please all parties. Firli, according to records, has a number of problems that undermined her credibility as a law enforcer.

Firli is alleged to have held a secret meeting with the Governor of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Tuan Guru Bajang Majdi (TGB). At that time, TGB was a related party in the alleged corruption case of PT Newmont regional government share ownership in 2009-2016.

Firli was also suspected of having another forbidden meeting with Baharullah Akbar. At that time Baharullah was undergoing examination after being a witness in the bribery case with the suspect Yaya Purnomo.

According to the Advisory Council of the KPK, Mohammad Tsani Annafari, Firli was seen picking up Baharullah in the lobby of the KPK building. Another was Firli's meeting with political party leaders at a hotel in Jakarta in 2018.

Finally, Firli's violation before serving as the Chair of the KPK was the alleged distribution of free Westlife tickets. Firli was suspected of having distributed 600 Westlife tickets when an Irish boy band held a concert in Palembang in August 2019. Firli denied all accusations.

Azis Syamsuddin's corruption case

Azis Syamsuddin in a KPK detention vest (Wardhany Tsa Tsia/VOI)

Azis was arrested on suspicion of bribery in giving gifts in handling cases in Central Lampung Regency which were handled by the KPK. Together with his fellow Golkar cadre, Aliza Guando, the two are suspected of giving bribes worth Rp3,099,887,000 and US$ 36,000 – around Rp513 million – related to a conspiracy to allegedly steal public money.

According to the indictment of the public prosecutor (JPU), the bribe was given to Stepanus Robin Pattuju, a former KPK investigator. Stepanus Robin is alleged to have been tampered with around Rp3.613 billion in money to take care of a case in Central Lampung.

Still referring to the indictment, the case involves the names of Azis and Aliza. Apart from Stepanus Robin, the bribe money was also given to Maskur Husain, a lawyer. In total, the two received Rp3,099,887,000 and US$36 thousand or around Rp513 million.

According to the KPK prosecutor, Lie Putra Setiawan, in August 2020, Azis asked Stepanus Robin to discuss with Maskhur Husain about "whether (Maskur) is willing to take care of the case involving Azis Syamsuddin and Aliza Gunado related to the KPK investigation in Central Lampung," said Lie reading the letter Indictment at the Corruption Court, Jakarta, Monday, September 13.

After that, it was suspected that there was an agreement between Stepanus Robin and Maskhur. The agreement was accompanied by a condition of compensation of Rp2 billion from each party, both Azis and Aliza. Then, the money amounting to Rp300 million was allegedly given as a sign that Azis agreed. With this, the total amount of bribes agreed to reach Rp4 billion.

According to Lie Putra, the Rp300 million down payment was divided. Stepanus Robin received Rp100 million. Meanwhile, Maskur got Rp200 million. The advance payment was sent via transfer to Azis Syamsuddin's account on August 3 and 5, 2020. On that 5th, Stepanus Robin was said to have received $100,000 in cash from Azis.

The trial of Stepanus Robin Pattuju (Source: Antara)

Stepanus Robin Pattuju at the KPK Supervisory Board session (Source: KPK Public Relations) The money was handed over at Azis' official residence on Denpasar Raya Street 3/3, South Jakarta. Arriving at Azis' official residence, Agus Susanto escorted Stepanus Robin. Stepanus Robin even showed Agus the money he had received. Next, Stepanus Robin divided the money into Maskur with a value of 36 thousand US dollars. The money was given in front of the Central Jakarta District Court.

Stepanus Robin then exchanged the remaining US$64 thousand to a money changer using Agus's identity. From the exchange, Rp936 million was obtained. Of the total amount, Stepanus Robin then gave Rp300 million to Maskur. The gift this time was held at the Borneo Restaurant, Keramat Sentiong.

"From the end of August 2020 to March 2021, the defendant received several times from Azis Syamsuddin and Aliza Gunado with a total of 171,900 Singapore dollars."

Transaction after transaction continued afterward. The money cycle between Azis, Aliza, Stepanus Robin, and Maskur flows smoothly. In this case, Stepanus Robin and Maskur were charged with receiving Rp11.025 billion and US$36 thousand – around Rp513 million. With this, the total amount of money they received reached Rp11.5 billion for the management of five cases.

Detailing the source of the money, as much as Rp1.695 billion was given by M Syahrial, the inactive Tanjungbalai Mayor; Azis and Aliza gave Rp3,099,887,000 and 36 thousand US dollars; Rp507.39 million from Ajay Muhammad Priatna; and Usman Effendi and Rita Widyasari who gave Rp 525 million and Rp 5,197,800,000 respectively.

*Read other information about CORRUPTION or read other interesting articles from Wardhany Tsa Tsia and Yudhistira Mahabharata.

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