KPK Leadership Term Becomes 5 Years, Novel Baswedan: Unable To Be Applied In The Era Of Firli Bahuri Et Al

A number of elected KPK leaders for the 2019-2023 period at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday, September 16, 2019. (ANTARA-Indrianto Eko Suwarso)

JAKARTA - Former investigator of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Novel Baswedan assessed that the extension of the term of office of the KPK leadership did not apply in the Firli Bahuri et al era. This decision is considered only to be implemented in a new leadership period.

"It should not be applied to the KPK leadership for this period. Because the current KPK leadership is appointed with the Presidential Decree for the 2019-2023 period," Novel told reporters, Thursday, May 25.

"So, this decision applies for the next period," he continued.

Furthermore, Novel believes that the selection of the head of the anti-corruption commission will also continue. Moreover, the committee will already be elected by the State Secretary (Setneg).

"I firmly believe that the president will not make a new Presidential Decree for the benefit of the KPK leadership, which has been problematic. Because if it is done it will embarrass the president," said Novel.

As previously reported, the Constitutional Court granted the request for a judicial review submitted by the Deputy Chairperson of the KPK, Nurul Ghufron, today, Thursday, May 25. This decision was read out by Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Anwar Usman at the Decree and Decision Speech Session.

"Declaring Article 34 of the KPK Law which originally reads 'KPK leaders hold office for 4 years and can be re-elected only for one term' contrary to the 1945 Constitution and do not have conditionally binding legal force as long as it is interpreted as 'KPK leaders hold office for 5 years and can be re-elected only for one term of office,' said Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Anwar Usman, which was broadcast on the MK YouTube channel.

There were several considerations in the decision. Among them, for the sake of alignment, because the four-year term scheme, recruitment was carried out twice, namely December 2019 and December 2023.