Tempo: Aris Should Have Filed Complaint to Press Council

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) director of investigation Brig. Gen. Aris Budiman reported Majalah Tempo, Koran Tempo, and Tempo.co to the Jakarta Police for an allegation of defamation. According to Aris, articles published by the Tempo Group media had discredited him.

In response to the report, Tempo executive editor Arif Zulkifli said that all articles published by Majalah Tempo, Koran Tempo, and Tempo.co are products of journalism. As an institution, Arif added, Tempo respects responses given by readers and sources to the journalism products.

Read: KPK Director of Investigation Files Police Report against Tempo

“However, the law on press states that any press dispute shall be settled with the Press Council,” Arif said on Wednesday, Sept. 6.

Aris views that an article published in Majalah Tempo edition August 28-September 3, 2017, entitled “Penyusup Dalam Selimut KPK” (KPK, the Enemy Within) contains a slander against him. However, Aris did not mention the individual he was reporting against. The Jakarta Police record mentions that the perpetrator is being investigated.

Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Adi Deriyan said that Aris in the report denied the allegation as written in the articles. “He had never received money as alleged in the articles,” Adi explained.

In addition to reporting Tempo, Aris also filed a police report in relation to an exclusive interview with Indonesia Corruption Watch coordinator Donald Faris, aired by Kompas TV.

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