Polri: We Have Sent Letter Canceling Dismissal of Rossa to KPK

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The police force has stated that they had given a letter canceling the withdrawal of Commissioner Rossa Purbo Bekti to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). "We did get information that Rossa has been returned to the National Police by the KPK. However, the National Police did send a cancellation letter to the KPK, stipulating that Rossa was not to be withdrawn," said the National Police Headquarters Chief of the Public Information Office, Brigadier General Argo Yuwono, at his office, South Jakarta, on Thursday, February 6. 2020.

Argo ensured that Rossa would remain on duty at the KPK until his service period expires in September 2020. In addition, he said, the police had not received a letter of termination of Commissioner Rossa's work from the KPK. "We have not received (it)."

Rossa was enlisted as part of the execution team in the sting operation of the General Election Commission (KPU) commissioner, Wahyu Setiawan. However, Rossa suddenly became a point of discussion when the KPK announced their dismissal of Rossa, as based on the KPK leadership decree, dated January 22, 2020.

Rossa was officially dismissed in being a KPK investigator on February 1, 2020, along with fellow investigator from the police force, Commissioner Indra. Rossa's dismissal is allegedly related to the sting operation on Wahyu Setiawan, that now involves high ranking Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) officials.

Chief of KPK Firli Bahuri stated that Commissioner Rossa has officially been dismissed as a KPK investigator. "Rossa has been dismissed as a KPK investigator along with Indra in accordance with the commission's decision starting from February 1, 2020," he said in a written statement. He went on to claim that the returning of employed police investigators back to the police force as a normal occurrence.

ANDITA RAHMA | DIO SUHENDA (INTERN TRANSLATOR)