TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy chief Bambang Widjojanto has reminded the witnesses who skipped the KPK's summonses in the graft case implicating would-be National Police chief Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan that their action could be categorized as an obstruction of justice, and thus a violation of the law.
“All parties who intentionally shun or obstruct investigation can be charged with Articles 21, 22, 23,” Bambang said in his office in the early hours of Wednesday, January 28, 2015. Bambang explained the maximum penalty for such violations was 12 years’ imprisonment or a maximum fine of Rp600 million.
Until the 15th day since the KPK named Budi as a suspect in a bribery and gratification case, Insp. Gen. (ret.) Syahtria Sitepu—a former lecturer at the National Police’s Staff and Leadership School—has been the only witness to fulfill the KPK’s summons.
The graft busters have thus far summoned a number of witnesses for questioning—most of them active police officers. “I think law enforcers are aware of this,” Bambang said.
The KPK said it was looking into the possibility of charging the superiors of the absent police officers with the articles. “We will review this further,” he said.
MUHAMAD RIZKI