Novel Baswedan and Over 70 KPK Employees Reportedly Threatened to Be Dismissed

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders reportedly planned to dismiss 75 employees as they did not pass the national test. One of them is senior investigator Novel Baswedan.

Novel confirmed to have heard the news of his dismissal. “Yes, I’ve heard the information,” he said via a text message to Tempo on Monday, May 3, 2021.

According to information obtained by Tempo, employees who will be dismissed were recruited independently prior to the revision of the Corruption Eradication Commission Law (KPK Law). After the law was revised, employees are required to obtain the status of state apparatus or ASN. The anti-graft body then conducted a series of tests.

The KPK had received the test results from the State Civil Service Agency on April 27. However, the results have not been published yet. Contacted via a short message on Sunday, May 2, KPK deputy chairman Nurul Ghufron has not yet given responses.

Acting KPK spokesman Ali Fikri said his agency had indeed accepted the results but claimed to have not known about it. “The KPK ensures that it will be published in the near future,” he said on Sunday, May 2.

Novel Baswedan deemed the test as part of the efforts to get rid of independent employees at the KPK which has been carried out for a long time. Novel said such an effort took him by surprise. “If it is true, of course, I will be surprised. Because this is the first time the KPK leaders make such efforts,” he said.

Read: KPK Chairman Apologizes as Investigator Allegedly Taking Bribe

M ROSSENO AJI