The Corruption Eradication Commission Is Urged To Immediately Summon Deputy Chairman Of The Indonesian Parliament Azis Syamsuddin

Gedung KPK (Irfan Meidianto/VOI)

JAKARTA - Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) urges the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to immediately summon and examine Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Parliament Azis Syamsuddin. This needs to be done considering the role of the politician from the Golkar Party in the bribery case against the case termination which involved the KPK investigator Stepanus Robin Pattuju and the Mayor of Tanjungbalai M Syahrial.

"Azis' role was actually very significant in the case, starting from facilitating a meeting between investigator Robin and the Mayor of Tanjungbalai, and even asking Robin to help handle the case of the regional head", said Kurnia in a written statement to reporters, Tuesday, April 27.

So, it is necessary for the KPK to immediately carry out an examination of Azis Syamsuddin. Especially exploring how he is, knowing the ins and outs of case handling in the internal anti-graft commission.

The ICW assesses that if the Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) is proven to have committed an action related to efforts to terminate the case, then there is only one option for the KPK, namely to raise the status of the case to investigate and determine Azis as a suspect on suspicion of violating Article 15 of the Corruption Law.

As for Article 15 of the Anti-Corruption Law, it is stated that every person who carries out an experiment, assistance, or conspiracy to commit a criminal act of corruption, will be punished with the same punishment as referred to in Article 2, Article 3, Article 5 to Article 14.

Returning to Kurnia, he reminded the KPK not to repeat its mistake when investigating the lobster bribery case that involved the former Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Edhy Prabowo. "At that time, the Deputy for Enforcement had prevented Antam Novambar from being summoned by the KPK. In fact, the summons had already been sent to the person concerned", he said.

Finally, the KPK and its supervisory board are urged to immediately examine other parties who are considered to have knowledge of the bribe against Stepanus. "The examination is expected to also touch important actors in the KPK, ranging from investigators who are members of the Robin Task Force, the Director of Investigation, Deputy for Enforcement, to the KPK leadership", said Kurnia.

Previously reported, the KPK has determined and detained three people in a bribery case to terminate prosecution. They are KPK investigators from elements of the Bhayangkara Corps Stepanus Robin Pattuju, Mayor of Tanjungbalai M Syahrial, and lawyer Maskur Husain.

In this case, Stepanus and Maskur were suspected of violating Article 12 letter a or letter b or Article 11 and Article 12B of the Corruption Eradication Law in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) k-1 of the Criminal Code.

Meanwhile, MS was suspected of violating Article 5 paragraph 1 letter a or b or Article 12 of the Corruption Eradication Law.

The flow of the case

The KPK chairman Firli Bahuri uncovered the bribery conspiracy related to the handling of the case of the Mayor of Tanjungbalai, North Sumatra, M Syahrial (MS). There was a meeting attended by the KPK investigator Stepanus Robin Pattuju with the Mayor of Tanjungbalai at the house of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Azis Syamsuddin.

"In October 2020, SRP (Stepanus Robin Pattuju, KPK investigator) held a meeting with MS (Mayor of Tanjungbalai M Syahrial) at the AZ official residence (Azis Syamsuddin) Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Parliament", said Firli Bahuri at a press conference at the KPK building, Thursday evening, April 22.

During the meeting, Firli Bahuri mentioned that Deputy Speaker of the DPR, Azis Syamsuddin, introduced KPK investigator Stepanus Robin Pattuju (SRP) to the Mayor of Tanjungbalai M Syahrial (MS).

"Because it is suspected that MS has a problem related to the investigation of suspected corruption in the Tanjung Balai City Government which is being carried out by the KPK so that it does not go up to the investigation stage and asked SRP to help so that later the investigation problem is not followed up by the KPK", he explained.

Following up on the meeting at the house of Deputy Speaker of the DPR Azis Syamsuddin, KPK investigator Stepanus Robin Pattuju (SRP) introduced lawyer Maskur Husain (MH) to the Mayor of Tanjungbalai M Syahrial (MS).

"SRP together with MH (Maskur Husain, lawyer) agreed to make a commitment with MS (Mayor of Tanjungbalai M Syahrial) regarding the investigation of alleged corruption in the Tanjungbalai City Government not to be followed up by the KPK by preparing IDR 1.5 billion", said Firli.

Mayor of Tanjungbalai M Syahrial approved the request of KPK investigator Stepanus Robin Pattuju (SRP) and lawyer Maskur Husain (MH). MS transferred money through the account of Riefka Amalia, a friend of a KPK investigator. The Mayor of Tanjungbalai also gave cash to KPK investigator Stepanus Robin Pattuju (SRP).

"Until the total money that SRP has received is IDR 1.3 billion", he said.

"After the money was received, SRP reiterated to MS with a guarantee of certainty that the investigation into the alleged corruption in the Tanjung Balai City Government would not be followed up by the KPK", he added.

From the money given by the Mayor of Tanjungbalai M Syahrial, lawyer Maskur Husain received a total of IDR 525 million through KPK investigator Stepanus Robin Pattuju (SRP). MH is suspected of also receiving money from other parties of around IDR 200 million.

"Meanwhile, the SRP (KPK investigator) from October 2020 to April 2021 is also suspected of receiving money from other parties through bank transfer in the name of RA (Riefka Amalia) amounting to IDR 438 million", said Firli.