Police Chief Wants Bareskrim Explains Probe into KPK Leaders

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian said that he was not aware of the Bareskrim`s decision to begin an investigation into the KPK leaders and investigators over documents forgery and abuse of authority. “I, the police chief, am not aware of the SPDP [a notice to begin an investigation],” Tito said via a text message received by Tempo on November 8.

He said that he will summon Criminal Investigation Unit’s (Bareskrim) director Comr. Gen. Ari Dono to get an explanation of the case reported by the lawyers of the House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Setya Novanto on October 9. The police chief said that Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chief Agus Rahardjo and deputy chief Saut Situmorang are named as reported parties in the letter, not suspects.

Read: Police Issues Order of Investigation into KPK Leaders

Earlier, Setya Novanto team of lawyers filed a police report against the KPK leaders and investigators over alleged forgery of an investigation letter (SPDP) and abuse of authority.

The same team yesterday published the SPDP on the KPK officials. The letter was signed by Bareskrim General Crime Director Brig. Gen. Herry Rudolf Nahak on November 7. It names Agus Rahadjo and Suat Situmorang as the reported parties.

Herry Rudolf declined to comment on the SPDP that he signed. “Ask the police public relations division instead,” he said. However, police spokesman Insp. Gen. Setyo Wasisto had yet to issue any statement as of yesterday.

Novanto’s chief lawyer Fredrich Yunadi said that they have a travel ban request, an investigation warrant and the case dossier in the electronic identity cards (e-KTP) graft case against his client as evidence. He claimed that all of the documents were invalid and allegedly issued by abusing authority. “Aside from 2 leaders, there are also 24 investigators, including the KPK Investigation Director Aris Budiman,” the lawyer said.

The KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said that the anti-graft agency is used to being undermined in the corruption eradication efforts. He expressed that legal proceedings launched against its officials will not make them drop Setya Novanto’s case. “The latest investigation into the e-KTP case continues,” he said.

Febri expects police to abide by Article 25 of the Anti-Corruption Law that investigation, indictment and examination at a corruption court should be conducted before other cases.

FAJAR PEBRIANTO l ANDHITA RAHMA