TNI Commander Promises To Be Objective In Handling The Kabasarnas Case

TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono answered reporters' questions at the official residence of the vice president of Jakarta on Wednesday (2/8/2023). ANTARA/Desca Lidya Natalia

TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono promised his party to be objective in handling cases of alleged corruption in accepting bribes involving the Head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Marsdya Henri Alfiandi.

"I guarantee objectively because it is his authority, it can be controlled, right now outside it cannot be hidden like that," said Yudo Margono at the official residence of the vice president of Jakarta as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, August 2.

On Wednesday (26/7) the KPK had

"In accordance with the provisions of the (UU) law, all of them were formed by the TNI POM (Military Police), indeed to investigate the crimes that occurred in the military. That's why I ask the public not to have feelings as if they were taken by the TNI to be protected, no," said Yudo.

Yudo said the TNI was also subject to laws and regulations.

"The law states that, we are not the ones who ask. There is Law no. 31 of 1997 concerning Military Courts is clear, Law no. 34 of 2004 concerning the TNI, it is clear that the general court as long as there is no provision of a new law that regulates Law no. 31 of 1997, so it is still subject to military justice and so far it has been guaranteed," Yudo explained.

The TNI Commander also said that the Kabasarnas case was not the first case in the TNI.

"The satellite case is also handled equally and the maximum sentence is imposed, and the Bakamla is dropped to the maximum. Where else? No, so there is no fear. Let's monitor together," he added.

Admiral Yudo also denied the intimidation from the TNI against the KPK leadership and KPK investigators by members of the TNI.

"No, it's not the time that people are intimidated, it's their respective job. If I intervene, it orders which battalions don't order that it's called intervention, those who come are SH (law certificates) and MH (legal master) all of them, starting from Danpom TNI, Kabapinkum, Japticder specifically for us to coordinate in accordance with legal experts in the TNI and legal experts at the KPK," said Yudo.

The TNI Commander also handed over the settlement of the case entirely to the TNI Military Police (POM).

"It was handed over to the TNI POM, according to its authority. I don't have the authority to investigate what is clear about the POM and the KPK because this is a criminal act of corruption, which has the authority of the KPK and POM, there is already a regulated law," he added.

However, Yudo Margono still asked for the evidence in the KPK to also be submitted to the TNI POM.

"If it's not given to POM, you can't, where does the evidence come from? From the start again, it's difficult, who has evidence from the KPK and has also been handed over, that's why yesterday's press release was all conveyed," said Yudo.