TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The inquiry right committee set up by the House of Representatives (DPR) seemed to be at their wit`s end. The direction of the investigation was not clear as it failed to find serious violations by KPK.
Its findings so far only consist of mere complaints or unsupported accusations by former witnesses or suspects who previously had run-ins with KPK investigators. Some of the witnesses presented at the inquiry right hearing at the DPR were in fact convicted criminals. The committee is now using their testimonies to discredit KPK.
How ridiculous it would be if KPK's fate is determined by statements from someone like Muhtar Ependy, a man sentenced to five years for his role in the graft case involving the former constitutional chief justice Akil Mochtar. At the inquiry right hearing, Muhtar talked at length about how KPK promised to return half of his seized assets. His uncorroborated testimony does not make sense as it is the jurisdiction of the judge, not KPK, to rule on seized assets.
Another 'joke' came from the testimony of Muhtar's nephew, Mico Fanji Tirtayasa, who was also implicated in the Akil Mochtar case. Mico, who escaped punishment by exposing Muhtar's involvements, claimed that he was pressured during the investigation process. He also accused KPK investigators of forcing him to give false statements. All these allegations are hard to prove. If indeed he experienced the pressure, Mico should have reported it to the police before.
Likewise for Yulianis, a former assistant of M. Nazaruddin, ex-treasurer of the Democrat Party, who is now in prison for corruption. She alleged that a former KPK commissioner had received Rp1 billion in bribe money. It is a serious allegation and if she does have evidence, Yulianis should go to the police or the attorney-general office.
The committee's messy investigation increasingly shows how desperate DPR is to delegitimize KPK. Its political maneuver also comes across as a retaliation against the anti-graft agency which has put many Senayan politicians behind bars and is currently in the midst of exposing the electronic ID card scandal.
Even the legal basis of the committee is weak given KPK's status as an independent institution, not an executive branch that can be targeted by the inquiry committee. The jurisdiction for inquiry right is clearly stipulated in the laws governing People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), House of Representative (DPR), House of Regional Representatives (DPD) and Regional Representative Council (DPRD), which Senayan itself drew.
Senayan's dastardly political maneuver can still be put to an end politically through the parties. President Joko Widodo should order his coalition parties to withdraw from the committee. The support for the committee is getting weaker after Gerindra backed out. The National Mandate Party is also posed to follow suit.
The Constitutional Court should in the meantime expedite the legal review filed by, among others, KPK staff, to question the legitimacy of the inquiry right committee. 'Rumors' surrounding the inquiry right against the KPK should be put to rest so as to not to ruin the rules of order.
Read the full story in this week’s edition of Tempo English Magazine