TEMPO.CO, Jakarta– Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders have rejected the proposed resignation of its deputy chief, Bambang Widjojanto. KPK prevention deputy Johan Budi said the deactivation of Bambang from the Commission’s leadership would now depend on President Joko Widodo’s decision.
“All KPK leaders have refused the resignation. We’re still awaiting President Jokowi’s decision as to whether he will issue the decree on the deactivation or not,” Johan said in his office on Monday, January 26, 2015.
Johan said the other three KPK leaders—Abraham Samad, Zulkarnain and Adnan Pandu Pradja—were certain that the charges pressed against Bambang, which was based on reports by Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Sugianto Sabran, were engineered.
“Based on that conviction, Pak Bambang’s resignation has been turned down. The KPK needs him,” he said.
Johan said the KPK would be left with only three leaders should Bambang be deactivated. “The decision now lies in the president’s hands, whether he will issue the presidential decree on the deactivation or not,” he said.
Bambang Widjojanto tendered his resignation to the Commission on Monday morning following his naming as a suspect by the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Division (Bareskrim). The police said Bambang had allegedly instructing witnesses to commit perjury in a disputed election case of Kotawaringin Barat regency at the Constitutional Court in 2010. Bambang was the lawyer of one of the contenders in the election.
The police arrested Bambang ten days after the anti-graft body named National Police chief sole hopeful Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan as a suspect in a case of bribery and gratification.
LINDA TRIANITA
