OTT As Entertainment, Novel Baswedan: In Fact, Many Big Cases Are Revealed After Catching Hands

IM 57+ Institute Advisory Board Novel Baswedan at the ACLC KPK Building, Rasuna Said, South Jakarta, Friday, April 26. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Former investigator of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Novel Baswedan did not agree if his former office left a hand arrest operation (OTT) and considered it entertainment. The silent action could actually be the door to uncover major cases.

"So far, OTT has succeeded in becoming a way to uncover major corruption cases," Novel said as quoted from his written statement to reporters, Tuesday, June 25.

Novel also said that this silent operation often prevents state losses. "Because the arrangement or conditioning to take state money is quickly exposed," he said.

Furthermore, Novel considers that the leader who calls OTT is just entertainment, namely Deputy Chairperson of the KPK Alexander Marwata does not understand the strategy to eradicate corruption. He also said that this kind of statement did not represent the institution.

"The general public will be disappointed and concerned to hear Alexander Marwata's words," he said.

"But I believe that the words in question only represent himself who does not understand his duties," Novel continued.

As previously reported, Deputy Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Alexander Marwata said his agency is now more focused on working on cases that cause large amounts of state losses. They began to leave arrests that relied on wiretapping.

"We are now focusing more on handling cases where the potential loss to the state is large and where is it happening? SOEs, in government agencies with high budget. That's what we focus on there," Alexander told reporters in the Tebet area, South Jakarta, Friday, June 21.

Alexander said that the perpetrators of corruption already understand how hand arrest operations (OTT) work. So, now it is rare for officials to talk about giving or receiving money.

Even so, Alexander said the commission would still carry out silent operations. However, taking action is no longer the main priority.

"Yes, okay OTT. Yes, thank God you got it later, yes, make entertainment 'high', make people happy," he concluded.