KPK appeals for foreign aid<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Mandated with the formidable mission of cleansing rampant
\ncorruption across the country, the newly established Corruption
\nEradication Commission (KPK) has appealed for assistance from
\nforeign donors due to a lack of funds from the government.<\/p>\n
KPK chairman Insp. Gen. (ret) Taufiequrahman Ruki revealed on
\nThursday that the commission had met with representatives from a
\nnumber of foreign donor agencies, including the International
\nMonetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank
\n(ADB), the Asian Foundation and the Japan Bank for International
\nCooperation (JBIC), to talk about the issue.<\/p>\n
\"We are asking for a grant. We don't need cash, but technology
\nand training for our staff,\" Ruki told reporters during a press
\nconference attended by colleagues Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas,
\nAmien Sunaryadi, and Sjahruddin Rasul at his office.<\/p>\n
Ruki said the two-month-old KPK badly needed technology such
\nas bugging devices in order to build strong evidence against
\nsuspected corruptors.<\/p>\n
Without strong evidence, Ruki said, the courts would easily
\nreject cases filed by the KPK, something that the commission
\nseeks to avoid as \"it will absolutely undermine our credibility\".<\/p>\n
Law No. 30\/2003 on KPK allows the commission to tap
\nconversations of suspected corruptors, to be used as hard
\nevidence in court.<\/p>\n
\"We understand that we are supposed to eradicate corruption
\nwith our own resources. But, we also realize that our domestic
\nresources are limited. At the moment, we have a number of friends
\nfrom the international community who are offering assistance,\" he
\nsaid without going into detail.<\/p>\n
Ruki said that training was mandatory for KPK staff in a bid
\nto gain the necessary expertise in order to arrest, charge and
\nprosecute corruptors.<\/p>\n
The government has yet to allocate an annual budget for the
\ncommission. Ruki disclosed that the government had not yet paid
\nthe salaries of the KPK leadership.<\/p>\n
\"We are digging into our own pockets to hire secretaries,
\ndrivers and security guards,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The government has \"lent\" nine police personnel, six
\nprosecutors, 15 administrative personnel from the State
\nSecretariat and two from the justice ministry. There are also
\nseveral \"volunteers\", he said.<\/p>\n
For the last two months, the government has paid for the
\ncommission's daily operations including telephone and electricity
\nbills. To date, the KPK runs its operations from the former
\noffice of the now-defunct Supreme Advisory Council (DPA).<\/p>\n
Ruki said he expected the government to allocate some Rp 90
\nbillion a year for the commission in the first year as it must
\nprocure a lot of equipment to set up the office and recruit
\nstaffers.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights has proposed a budget
\nof Rp 12 billion per year for the KPK.<\/p>\n
The staff recruitment, which is conducted by a professional
\ncompany, is expected to start in April.<\/p>\n
Ruki said the commission was having trouble determining the
\nremuneration for the staff, who must have credibility to ensure
\nthey are not tempted by bribes.<\/p>\n
So far, the commission has compiled 103 corruption cases filed
\nby the public. It has reviewed 38 among them and as many as 18
\ncases have been transferred to either the police or the Attorney
\nGeneral's Office.<\/p>\n
Another five cases are likely to be reviewed by the KPK, Amien
\nsaid. However, he did not name the cases.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kpk-appeals-for-foreign-aid-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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