KPK Chairman's Request That Violating Officials Who Do Not Report Wealth Can Be Punished, Which ICW Insinuated Back

Chairman of the KPK Firli Bahuri. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Firli Bahuri has asked the government and the Indonesian House of Representatives to make rules so that rogue officials who do not report their assets can be punished with criminal sanctions. However, this request was insinuated by Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) because Firli himself was not compliant in submitting his State Administrators Wealth Report (LHKPN).

KPK chairman Firli Bahuri said that the LHKPN, which is freely accessible to the public, is actually an early detection tool. However, there are still many state officials who do not want to report their assets, thus raising suspicion.

"There is nothing wrong with officials who are reluctant to report assets, people think that something is being hidden. Perhaps it is because there is corruption," said Firli via a thread on his Twitter account @firlibahuri.

He then explained that the obligation to report assets through LHKPN had actually been regulated through Law Number 28 Number 1999 concerning State Organizers that were Clean and Free of KKN, which was later strengthened through the KPK Law.

However, there are still many state officials who neglect to report their wealth. One of them is a high-ranking Regional Owned Enterprise (BUMD).

Firli said that this year, there were only 202 of 1,094 or 18.46 percent of officials in BUMD who reported their assets. In fact, the reporting deadline has passed seven months since March 31 last.

Not only non-compliance, but Firli also revealed that 95 percent of the LHKPN data turned out to be inaccurate. "Many state administrators are dishonest in reporting their assets. Starting from land, buildings, bank accounts, to other investments, they have something to hide," said the former Deputy for Enforcement of the KPK.

Even so, the KPK cannot do much because there is no legal umbrella to give strict sanctions to these dishonest officials. Thus, the anti-corruption commission urges a revision of Law No. 28/1999 by adding criminal penalties other than administrative penalties which are deemed not optimal.

"The non-compliance in reporting wealth for public officials is one of the corrupt mentalities that must be eradicated! Therefore, we urge @DPR_RI and the government to draw up sanctions rules that can force state officials to comply with reporting wealth," said Firli.

"It's also time to present a reversed proof rule for state administrators. They must be able to prove that their assets were not obtained from the proceeds of corruption. That way, corruption prevention can only play a role," he added.

Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) agrees that criminal sanctions for officials who neglect to report their assets need to be made. However, ICW researcher Kurnia Ramadhana was surprised if this request came from Firli Bahuri.

The reason is that Firli was also disobedient in reporting his wealth. "Based on KPK data, it is known that Firli did not report assets when ending his position as West Nusa Tenggara Police Chief, starting his position as South Sumatra Police Chief, and also when ending his position as South Sumatra Police Chief," Kurnia said in a written statement.

Seeing this condition, he also reminded lawmakers that it is necessary to add criminal penalties for officials who do not comply with reporting their wealth. Moreover, administrative sanctions in the legislation are still underestimated by officials who are obliged to report.

"Departing from Firli's problem and the reality of other public officials, it is important for legislators to immediately criminalize with imprisonment for state officials who do not comply with reporting on LHKPN," said Kurnia.

"Because the administrative sanctions regulated in Law Number 28 of 1999 are not effective and are actually underestimated by state officials," he concluded.