TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Roy Salam, Director of Indonesia Budget Center urged Supreme Audit Agency Chief Harry Azhar Aziz to step down from his position following a recent decision issued by the Agency’s Honorary Council. Harry was considered to have provided false wealth report by not including all of his assets. "Does he still deserve to lead the BPK? He should step down," Roy said on Tuesday, October 18, 2016.

Roy, who was also a member of the Save BPK Coalition, reported Harry for ethical code violation back on April 24, 2016. Harry was said to have not reported his ownership of a shell company Sheng Yue International Limited, which was included in the Panama Papers documents.

As a result, the BPK's Code of Ethics Council declared Harry guilty of violating BPK’s code of ethics for owning an overseas company. The Council delivered a written warning to Harry, which does not affect his position as the BPK Chief.

In relation to the sanctions, Roy said that the Save BPK Coalition will demand a copy of the Council's decision, and will propose a revision on Law No. 15/2006 on the BPK, specifically on provisions related to BPK leader.

Hifdzil Alim, a researcher from the Gajah Mada University Center for Anti-Corruption Studies questioned the BPK's Code of Ethics consideration in providing only light sanction for Harry. Hifdzil said that as a high-integrity institution, the BPK should have selected their leader well and conduct a thorough background check.

"If they are proven to have unlisted assets, that means the official have violated Law on Clean State Officials," Hifdzil said.

Hifdzil asserted that the Ethics Council decided to hand out light sanction because it fails to recognize the possibilities of criminal violation. "The Ethics Council should cooperate with NGO’s and the Corruption Eradication Commission to investigate whether Harry had committed a crime," Hifdzil said.

Similarly, a member of Commission III of the House of Representatives Sarifuddin Suding, also urged Harry to step down. “If [he] has been warned, he should immediately step down,” Sarifuddion said.

MITRA TARIGAN