Firli Bahuri Is Reported For Allegedly Violating The Code Of Ethics, ICW: Supervisory Board Is Expected Not To Be A Defender

Firli Bahuri/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The Supervisory Board of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has been asked not to act like a defender for the anti-corruption commission. They were asked to immediately summon the chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission, Firli Bahuri, who during the past week had been reported twice for violating the code of ethics.

Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher Kurnia Ramadhana urged the KPK Supervisory Board to immediately summon Firli. Moreover, the two reports that come in are closely related to the nuances of a conflict of interest.

"ICW urges the Supervisory Board to immediately summon Firli Bahuri in relation to a series of alleged violations of the code of ethics as reported by alumni of the 2020 Anti-Corruption Journalism Academy and IM57+ Institute," Kurnia said in a written statement to reporters, Monday, March 14.

AJLK 2020 alumnus, Korneles Materay complained about Firli to the Supervisory Board because he gave the award to his wife, Ardina Safitri, who created the KPK hymn and march. According to him, what Firli did was a conflict of interest.

Meanwhile, former KPK employees who are members of the Indonesia Calling (IM) 57+ Institute, reported Firli because he was suspected of using KPK facilities in the form of SMS Blast which was financed by the state for his personal interests.

"We think that starting from the KPK march and hymn which is thick with nuances of conflict of interest and the SMS blast, it will be the initial reason for the Supervisory Board to follow up their reports to the ethics trial," said Kurnia again.

ICW asked Tumpak Hatorangan and team as the KPK Supervisory Board not to act as the defenders of Firli Bahuri and team. This request arises because the Supervisory Board often imposes low sanctions on KPK leaders when they are proven to have violated the code of ethics.

"We certainly don't expect Supervisory Board to act as the defense team for the KPK leadership again," said Kurnia.

"Because, all this time, starting from the low imposition of ethical sanctions on KPK leaders and the ignorance of Supervisory Board when they saw TWK, people were reluctant to put their trust in the supervisory agency," he added.

Apart from being reported by Korneles and IM57+, Firli Bahuri has actually been reported to have violated ethics in 2020. This complaint was made by the Coordinator of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) Boyamin Saiman because Firli was caught using a chartered helicopter from Palembang to Baturaja for his personal needs.

From this complaint, the KPK Supervisory Board stated that the former deputy for the prosecution of the Corruption Eradication Committee was proven guilty of violating ethics regarding a luxurious lifestyle.

"Trial, declare that the examinee is proven guilty of violating the code of ethics and code of conduct," said Head of the Supervisory Board of Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean on Thursday, August 24.

This decision was taken because Firli is considered to have ignored the obligation to realize that all his attitudes and actions are always inherent in his capacity as a member of the KPK. Not only that, he is considered not to show an example in actions in daily behavior as regulated in Article 4 Paragraph (1) letter n and Article 8 Paragraph (1) letter f KPK Supervisory Board Regulation Number: 02 of 2020 concerning the enforcement of the Code of Ethics and KPK Code of Conduct.

Firli is also considered not to show an example in actions in daily behavior as regulated in Article 4 Paragraph (1) letter n and Article 8 Paragraph (1) letter f KPK Supervisory Board Regulation Number: 02 of 2020 concerning the enforcement of the KPK Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct.

With these various violations, Firli was given a light sanction in the form of giving a written warning 2 so that similar incidents do not happen again. After being declared to have violated ethics, Firli apologized to all Indonesian people.

"I take this opportunity today, I apologize to all Indonesian people who may not feel comfortable," he said after hearing the decision of the KPK Council.

"I declare that I accept the decision and I make sure that I will never repeat it," he concluded.