A Number Of Serious Problems After Cirebon City Police Appoints Reporter Of Alleged Corruption, Nurhayati Becomes A Suspect

Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher Kurnia Ramadhana/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Although the determination of the status of a suspect against the former Head of Financial Affairs (Kaur) of Citemu Village, Mundu District, Cirebon Regency, Nurhayati will be stopped, this incident is considered to have caused serious problems.

Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher Kurnia Ramadhana noted that there were at least two problems caused by the determination of the suspect's status. First, is the tarnishing of Nurhayati's good name after the Cirebon City Police named herself a suspect in the village fund corruption case.

"The Cirebon Police's legal action, which seems forced, has caused a number of serious problems. First, Nurhayati's good name has been tarnished due to her status as a suspect," Kurnia said in a written statement quoted on Wednesday, March 2.

Furthermore, this incident is considered to be able to reduce the steps of the community to participate in eradicating corruption. Moreover, Kurnia said, Nurhayati, who was named a suspect, was the reporter for alleged riots in the vicinity.

"Second, the determination of a suspect to a party suspected of providing information has the potential to discourage the public from contributing to the issue of eradicating corruption," he said.

These two serious problems, continued Kurnia, actually did not need to happen if the Cirebon Police were able to act professionally. Or at least, they can distinguish between criminal and administrative acts as well as the 'Justification' provisions in the criminal law as stated in Article 51 of the Criminal Code.

Furthermore, this incident made ICW urge that legal protection by the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) be immediately given to Nurhayati.

Not only that but there was also pressure for the KPK to supervise the performance of the Cirebon Police and Kejari.

Next, the urge was also conveyed to the National Police to summon and examine the Cirebon City Police investigators who named Nurhayati as a suspect.

This step is important because Kurnia believes that the investigators have the potential to violate the Police's code of ethics, especially Article 10 paragraph (1) letters a and d of the National Police Chief Regulation Number 7 of 2006 regarding Ethics in Public Relations. In addition, the National Police Chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, was also asked to step down and immediately reprimand and evaluate the Cirebon Police Chief.

"Because he was proven unprofessional in supervising the duties of his subordinates when handling corruption cases in Citemu Village," he said.

Nurhayati's status, who was previously a reporter, became a suspect in the alleged corruption of village funds by the Cirebon City Police, which was highlighted by many parties. In fact, she has reported allegations of corruption in village funds that cost the state IDR 800 million from 2018-2020.

Regarding this determination, the government also spoke up. Mahfud MD through his Twitter account @mohmahfudmd said that Nurhayati's suspect status would not be continued.

He even said his ministry had coordinated with the police and the prosecutor's office. Thus, Nurhayati does not need to come to her office on Medan Merdeka Barat street, Jakarta to complain further.

"Information that the person concerned is no longer necessary to come to the Kem-Polhukam. Kem. Polhukam has coordinated with the Police and the Prosecutor's Office. God willing, the status of the suspect will not be continued. Only the juridical formula remains," Mahfud wrote via his Twitter account on Sunday, February 27.

Even so, the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) confirmed that the case of alleged corruption in village funds that had ensnared another suspect, namely the Head of Citemu Village, was still ongoing. The termination of the status determination said Mahfud, only applies to Nurhayati.

"The allegation of corruption to the village head will certainly continue. This is about Nurhayati reporting and allegedly enjoying it or allegedly letting it go because the report was slow or because of other allegations. We'll just have to wait for the formula from the prosecutor and the police. Anyway, come on, don't be afraid to report corruption," he stressed.

Meanwhile, Nurhayati hopes that her determination as a suspect will not scare anyone, including village officials, from reporting allegations of corruption.

"Hopefully what happened to me is not a scourge for village officials and others to report corruption," said Nurhayati in Cirebon, quoted by Antara.

Nurhayati admits that she was surprised when she was named a suspect. "When I found out I was named a suspect, it was like I was struck by lightning, and I immediately dropped out," she said.

However, she is grateful that this incident received the attention of all parties and resulted in the announcement of the termination of his status as a suspect by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD.

Even Nurhayati cried when she heard the news because her struggle with her family and others has paid off, although so far she has not received the SP3 letter. "I couldn't say anything after hearing the news, I could only cry," she concluded.