TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - No Indonesian citizen is above the law, irrespective of whether she or he is the president or some other top state official, said Vice President Jusuf Kalla as reported by Antara News.
"There is no absolute immunity. If the president can be summoned, so can the chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). All citizens are equal before the law," he stated.
If somebody is involved in a legal case, s/he will deserve her/his punishment. However, if s/he is found not involved in the case through court proceedings, s/he must be acquitted of the punishment, Kalla pointed out.
"How can the KPK chief be immune from the law if s/he hits somebody else? In my opinion, the KPK chief must set a good example for others," he remarked.
The vice president added that everybody must abide by laws and that nobody is immune from the law.
Earlier, Deputy Chairman of the KPK Adnan Pandu Praja had asked President Joko Widodo to issue a government regulation in lieu of law regarding granting the KPK leadership and staff immunity from the law to thwart any attempts to delegitimize the anti-graft body.
"We are struggling now. We were chosen from among millions of Indonesians to combat corruption, and we are working towards that end. If we are criminalized while carrying out our duties, all efforts towards eradicating corruption will be disrupted," said Praja.
ANTARA NEWS
