The Domination Of Police Claimed Will Not Tarnish The Independence Of The KPK

KPK Building (Wardhany Tsa Tsia / VOI)

JAKARTA - Three strategic positions in the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), namely Deputy for Enforcement, Director of Enforcement, and Director of Investigation will not make the KPK lose its independence in combating corruption cases. The KPK argued that even though this strategic position was occupied by the Bhayangkara Corps, there was a work system that had to be adhered to.

The dominance of the Bhayangkara Corps within the anti-graft institution is in the spotlight. This is because KPK chairman Firli Bahuri is an active police officer, then the Deputy for Enforcement is filled by the former Deputy Regional Police of Yogyakarta, Brigadier General Karyoto.

Then, under the Deputy for Enforcement, the position of Director of Investigation was filled by the former Head of Sub-Directorate II of the General Crime Directorate of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police, Kombes Endar Priartono, and the Director of Investigation, Brigadier General Panca Putra.

Acting KPK spokesman for prosecution Ali Fikri said the election of Deputy for Enforcement, Director of Investigation, and Director of Investigation was in accordance with applicable regulations. They are also selected because of their expertise and when they take office they have to follow the existing work system.

"Apart from having good human resources, the KPK is an institution that already has a good work system so that accountability can be measured for every work, both process and outcome," Ali told reporters, Wednesday, April 22.

Ali also emphasized that as a law enforcer, all corruption cases currently being handled by the KPK will run without any intervention from any party. "The KPK as one of the law enforcement agencies, in handling each case, it will ensure that it will continue to work in accordance with the applicable legal corridors," he said.

Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) previously criticized three structural positions in the KPK prosecution sector held by members of the Bhayangkara Corps. ICW researcher Kurnia Ramadhana said this could potentially create a conflict of interest in the future.

"It is feared that it could potentially lead to a conflict of interest when there is a suspected corruption case involving the National Police," said Kurnia in a written statement some time ago.

In addition, Kurnia also questioned the dual loyalty that was impossible to avoid by the three people in the positions of Deputy for Enforcement, Director of Enforcement, and Director of Investigation at the Corruption Eradication Commission because at the same time they had two superiors, namely the National Police Chief and the KPK leadership.

"In the end, the public will see how the KPK's posture is in the leadership of Firli Bahuri," he concluded.