Novel Baswedan Et Al Finally Have A Dialogue With The Police Regarding The Offer To Become An ASN After Being Expelled By The KPK

Former KPK investigator Novel Baswedan with former Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Employee Forum, Yudi Purnomo (Wardhany Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - The National Police continues to show their seriousness in attracting 57 former employees of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) who were expelled at the end of last September due to the failure of the National Insight Test (TWK) assessment. Even so, Novel Baswedan et al did not immediately accept the offer because they would first listen to the details of the plan.

Head of the KPK Internal Learning Task Force Hotman Tambunan said he and dozens of his friends were ready if invited by the Police to discuss the offer to become a State Civil Apparatus (ASN).

This was conveyed after the Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Inspector General Argo Yuwono said that his party would invite Novel Baswedan et al to discuss their plan to appoint them as ASN in the Bhayangkara Corps.

"We will come to fulfill the invitation of the Police," said Hotman when contacted by reporters, Monday, October 4.

He said his party was open to further discussing the intention of the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo to appoint them as ASN. Moreover, the plan is one of the solutions to solve the problems caused by the National Insight Test Assessment (TWK) and has been approved by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

"If it's clear, we know the mechanisms and procedures, then we can take a stand," said Hotman.

Keeping his statement, representatives of 57 KPK employees finally came to the National Police Headquarters in the afternoon at around 15.00 WIB. Argo said there were nine former anti-corruption commission employees who attended the closed-door meeting.

"So there were nine representatives from former KPK friends. There were Mas Farid, Mas Chandra, Mas Feri, Mas Giri, and so on there," Argo told reporters.

According to him, the meeting was held to hear and discuss the intention of the National Police Chief to recruit Novel Baswedan et al. Furthermore, Argo said that communication will continue while his party finalizes the technical regulations for recruitment which were discussed with the experts. "Of course, the representatives have already (held a meeting, ed). This means that we have discussed each other," said Argo.

"Out of the nine people, they appreciated what was the hope of the National Police Chief," he added.

Previously, 58 employees were declared unable to work at the KPK because they failed to become ASN according to the mandate of the KPK Law Number 19 of 2019 as of the end of September. The employees include senior KPK investigators Novel Baswedan and Ambarita Damanik, Chairman of the KPK Employee Forum Yudi Purnomo, KPK investigator Harun Al-Rasyid, and dozens of other names.

In addition, there is also a young investigator, Lakso Anindito, who failed after taking a follow-up test because he had just finished his assignment. The KPK argued that they could not become ASN, not because of laws and regulations such as Perkom KPK Number 1 of 2021, but because of the results of their assessment.

Ahead of the dismissal, the National Police Chief admitted that he wanted to recruit dozens of these employees to become National Police ASN. This wish was conveyed in a letter to President Jokowi last week and was approved.

There is also the reason Sigit wants to recruit tens of these employees because the Police need human resources to strengthen the line of cracking down on corruption cases. Moreover, the National Police is currently also focusing on handling the COVID-19 recovery.

The National Police also emphasized that the recruitment was not a trap so that Novel Baswedan et al kept their mouths shut after being dismissed from the KPK. The presence of Novel and his colleagues was deemed necessary to strengthen the eradication of corruption.

Moreover, the former KPK employees have good skills and track records. Thus, they are expected to be able to return to help to create a corruption-free country.