Startling! Novel Reveals That Many Cases Of Former KPK Investigators Were Covered Up And Evidence Was Omitted

Novel Baswedan/Antara

JAKARTA - Former investigator of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Novel Baswedan, said that Stepanus Robin Pattuju could not play alone to secure people in the anti-corruption commission because he was a new employee.

He conveyed this belief in response to allegations that there were eight 'insiders' at the KPK who were ready to secure the corruption case that ensnared the former Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Azis Syamsuddin. One of the insiders is Stepanus, a former KPK investigator from the National Police.

"I'm sure Robin doesn't work alone. Is it possible for a new employee to play more than six cases and receive more than Rp. 11 billion. It's not logical," Novel was quoted as saying on Tuesday, October 12.

"I speak like this not as a layperson but as a person who participated in investigating the case and has reported it to the KPK Supervisory Board, I told them and they did not respond," he added.

As the former Head of the KPK Task Force (Kasatgas) who handled the bribery case by Stepanus, Novel said that the KPK had covered up many things. In fact, he said much of the evidence was omitted.

"I know very well that there are many things that are covered up, I know very well that there is evidence that is not disclosed, instead it has been omitted," he stressed.

Thus, Novel said that if the KPK and the KPK Supervisory Board were serious about resolving this bribery case, including looking for 'insiders' who helped Azis, then an investigation should be carried out. He said the anti-corruption commission could start by asking for information from the parties suspected of having lost evidence.

Furthermore, Novel also said that the KPK Supervisory Board did not need to wait for an official report. He said, Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean et al should be able to move in depth when they receive information about serious problems in investigating corruption within the internal anti-corruption commission.

"The question is when there is a scandal, is there a serious problem that is disturbed or not? If it is not disturbed, then why is there an eradication of corruption," said Novel.

"I think that's the main point and it's very clear. So I also don't want to argue. The facts are very clear, rather than busy bouncing around or making excuses, it's better to do the right thing," he concluded.