KPK Chairman Apologizes as Investigator Allegedly Taking Bribe

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Firli Bahuri apologized to all Indonesian people on Thursday after an investigator allegedly committed corruption.

A middle-ranking police officer hired by the KPK, Stepanus Robin Pattuju, allegedly took bribes from North Sumatra’s Tanjungbalai Mayor.

“This behavior does not reflect the attitude of KPK employees who must uphold honesty and professionalism in practicing their duties,” said Firli in a press conference at the anti-graft body’s Merah Putih building on Thursday, April 22.

He appealed to regional government institutions, business actors, and the general public to make a report if any party asks for facilities, money, and others as a return for terminating a case or other excuses. “File a report to the local police immediately and inform the KPK,” Firli underlined.

Previously reported, investigator Stepanus Robin Pattuju was suspected of asking Tanjungbalai Mayor M Syahrial to prepare Rp1.5 billion as a reward for helping to drop a corruption case in the city government being investigated by the anti-graft body.

At present, Stepanus Robin Pattuju and a lawyer Maskur Husain were both named suspects for taking bribes from Tanjungbalai Mayor. The KPK also named Syahrial as a graft suspect.

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