KPK orders Megawati to suspend Puteh for corruption probe<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Amid apparent government reluctance, the newly established
\nCorruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has ordered President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri to suspend alleged corruptor Nanggroe Aceh
\nDarussalam Governor Abdullah Puteh following the governor's
\nuncooperativeness toward the commission.<\/p>\n
The commission set Friday as the deadline for the President,
\nwho had boasted that she would soon suspend the governor in her
\ncampaign speech, to dismiss Puteh.<\/p>\n
The commission has also issued an order for Puteh's arrest
\nshould he refuse to come to Jakarta on Wednesday to face
\nquestioning in connection with the alleged mark-up in the
\npurchase of a helicopter by the Aceh administration in 2002 that
\ncosts the state Rp 4 billion (US$5.4 million) in losses.<\/p>\n
\"We have sent the letter directly to Pak Bambang Kesowo (the
\nstate secretary). We hope the President received the letter
\ntoday,\" commission chairman Taufiqurrahman Ruki told a news
\nconference after a leadership meeting with House of
\nRepresentatives Commission II on legal and domestic affairs.<\/p>\n
In its letter, the commission informed the President that it
\nwould use its legal authority to force Puteh to succumb to
\nquestioning since he had ignored two previous summonses.<\/p>\n
\"We summoned him for questioning on July 6. He said he could
\nnot make it due to his duties as governor and chief of the state
\nof civil emergency. He said he would come on July 9 instead. We
\naccepted that and sent another summons for questioning on July 9.
\nStill, he did not come,\" Ruki said.<\/p>\n
Article 12 paragraph E of Law No. 30\/2002 on the KPK states
\nthat the commission has the authority to memerintahkan (order)
\nthe supervisor of the suspect to suspend him\/her from his\/her
\nposition.<\/p>\n
Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno has always played down
\nthe significance of the governor's case. The Indonesian Military
\n(TNI), which in the beginning was very outspoken about the
\ngovernor's alleged corruption case, has recently become silent.<\/p>\n
\"We have issued an order for his arrest should he refuse to
\ncome (for questioning),\" Ruki asserted, saying that the
\ncommission had notified the Jakarta Police Headquarters to be
\nprepared to arrest him.<\/p>\n
Many have yet to recognize the extensive authority of the six-
\nmonth-old commission, which has been referred to as a superbody.<\/p>\n
The law on the KPK, which was set up by both the government
\nand the House, grants the commission extensive powers in a bid to
\nreduce rampant corruption in the country after the police and the
\nAttorney General's Office failed to do so.<\/p>\n
A. Teras Narang, who heads Commission II, said the commission
\nfully supported the KPK in using its powers to reduce corruption
\nin the country.<\/p>\n
\"We stand by the KPK as long as it does the job according to
\nthe law,\" he said, adding that the KPK is an independent body in
\nwhich no person or institution could interfere.<\/p>\n
Teras explained that Article 46 of the law on the KPK states
\nthat it replaces other specific laws concerning suspects who are
\nstate officials to ensure smooth investigation.<\/p>\n
The law on special autonomy, which requires the central
\ngovernment to secure approval from the local legislature council
\nbefore suspending a governor, therefore, is not applicable in the
\ncase of Puteh.<\/p>\n
Legal experts earlier suggested that the commission use its
\npowers to ensure that the investigation of Puteh ran smoothly,
\nwhich benefit the commission's reputation.<\/p>\n
Many have doubts as to whether the commission will be able to
\nbring Puteh to justice due to his close relationship with those
\nin power in Jakarta and Aceh.<\/p>\n
According to law, once the KPK declares it will investigate a
\ncorruption case, it must finish the investigation and prosecution
\nby taking the suspects to court.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kpk-orders-megawati-to-suspend-puteh-for-corruption-probe-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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