Johanis Tanak Values Prosecutors-Police Successfully Handling Corruption Without OTT

Prospective KPK leader Johanis Tanak after undergoing a fit and proper test (ANTARA/Bagus Ahmad Rizaldi)

JAKARTA - The candidate for the leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Johanis Tanak touched on the success of the Attorney General's Office and the National Police in eradicating corruption without a hand arrest operation (OTT).

This was conveyed by the deputy chairman of the anti-corruption commission when confirmed regarding his statement in the fit and proper test of the KPK Capim which was held by Commission III of the DPR on Tuesday, November 19.

Johanis Tanak saat itu sempat menyebut rencana menghapus OTT dan mendapat sambutan dari para legislator.

"The prosecutor did not use OTT or arrest them, but they succeeded in handling corruption cases. Likewise the National Police," Johanis told reporters, Wednesday, November 20.

Johanis explained that the rules regarding OTT were not in the Corruption Act or the KPK Law Number 19 of 2019. So, the anti-corruption commission should have carried out its duties according to the applicable regulations.

According to him, the success of the eradication effort was not seen from the number of arrests made.

"But how do we prevent corruption and take action," he said.

"There is a saying, it's better to prevent than to treat it," continued Johanis.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairperson of the KPK Alexander Marwata has a different view from his colleague. He called the silent operation one of the efforts to take action so that it was impossible to abolish it.

"KPK conducted investigations, investigations, prosecutions, executions. Well, the arrests were part of the prosecution," Alexander told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Wednesday, November 20.

"So I don't think it will go away either," he continued.

Alexander explained that OTT is not in the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP). In the regulation, the terms are caught red-handed.

However, Alexander thinks this problem is not too essential because it is just a term. Instead of being eliminated, he said OTT should be done even better.

"The dispatch (to carry out OTT, ed) also exists. Maybe it's more selective," he said.