Firli Has Not Cleaned Up His Workspace Even Though He Was Temporarily Dismissed Because He Was A Suspect Of Extortion

Head Of KPK News Section Ali Fikri/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - Head of the KPK News Section Ali Fikri said Firli Bahuri had not cleared the room for the KPK chairman even though he had been temporarily dismissed.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has signed the Presidential Decree (Keppres) for the temporary suspension of Firli Bahuri and appointed Nawawi Pomolango as the Temporary Chair of the KPK. This step was taken after he was named a suspect in the alleged extortion or acceptance of gratuities from former Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo.

"( Firli's room, red) Still (ordered as usual, ed) is (in, red) there are personal items, yes, in that room," Ali told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, November 30.

Because the room has not been taken care of, Ali said, Nawawi is not yet based there. However, he considers this just a technical problem and will not interfere with efforts to eradicate corruption.

"The problem with the room is technical, I don't think it's a problem to work anywhere. It's technical, yes," he said.

"He is also the interim chairman, so I think he wants to work wherever he can still work, complete, focus on how many agendas the KPK has prepared to complete at least until the end of 2023 that will be accounted for," Ali continued.

Ali emphasized that Firli had actually just been temporarily suspended. The KPK is still waiting for him to be tried and sit as a defendant so that some of his rights are still accepted, including salary.

"Well, if later as a defendant, then permanent dismissal. Because this is a temporary dismissal, of course there are several rights that must then also be given," he explained.

Previously reported, Firli Bahuri was named a suspect based on the results of a case title conducted on Wednesday, November 22. Polda Metro Jaya suspects that he was involved in the extortion and acceptance of gratuities. Some of the pieces of evidence that became the basis for determining the suspect were foreign exchange documents worth Rp7.4 billion. Then, there were also the results of the extraction of 21 cellphones. In the case of alleged extortion and acceptance of gratuities, Firli was charged with Article 12e, 12B or Article 11 of Law number 31 of 1999 concerning the eradication of corruption in conjunction with Article 65 of the Criminal Code. Firli is threatened with life imprisonment.