66 KPK Employees Fired For Being Entangled In Detention Extortion Cases

Illustration of the KPK building in Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta. (ANTARA-Fianda Sjofjan Rassat

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) dismissed 66 of its employees who were proven to have extorted from detention centers. The decree was submitted on Tuesday, April 23 yesterday.

"KPK has submitted a letter of dismissal to 66 employees who were proven to have committed extortion at the KPK branch detention center," said Head of the KPK News Section Ali Fikri to reporters at the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Wednesday, April 24.

Ali said the decision to dismiss was made after a disciplinary examination was carried out by employees with civil servants (PNS) status. The team that moves comes from direct superiors, supervisory elements, and personnel.

"66 employees were proven to have violated PP 94 of 2021 concerning Civil Servant Discipline, namely Article 4 letter i; Article 5 letter a; and Article 5 letter k," he said.

Furthermore, they were dismissed in accordance with article 8 paragraph (4) letter c PP 94 of 2021 by the Secretary General (Sekjen) of the KPK Cahya H. Harefa as the staffing officer.

"This dismissal will be effective on the 15th day since the Disciplinary Sentence Decision was handed over to the employees," Ali explained.

"The decision to dismiss these employees is part of the KPK's commitment to complete the handling of internal violations and zero tolerance for corrupt practices," continued the spokesman with the prosecutor's background.

Previously reported, there were 15 people who were suspected of extortion in the KPK detention center. They include the Head of the KPK Detention Center Achmad Fauzi, former Acting KPK Karutan Deden Rochendi and Ristanta, and Hengki who are ex-Kamtib Detention Centers.

The suspects allegedly managed to collect up to IDR 6.3 billion for four years from 2019-2023.

The money was obtained from detainees in corruption cases with various amounts ranging from Rp. 300 thousand to Rp. 20 million. The handover is carried out directly or through a holding bank account controlled by the lurah and corting.

Prisoners then get exclusive facilities after giving money. One of them can use a cellphone or power bank.

Meanwhile, those who do not pay or are late in depositing receive uncomfortable treatment. Among them, the detention room is locked from the outside, violations and reductions in sports rations, and gets a guard quota and more hygiene pickets.