Investigation of attorney general to conclude soon

A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The State Officials' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) said on Thursday it would complete its investigation into the allegation of corruption implicating Attorney General M.A. Rachman, before Idul Fitri, Dec. 6.

"We hope the final results of the investigation will wind up before Dec. 5 or Dec. 6," KPKPN chairman Jusuf Syakir, whose commission has been under public pressure to resolve the case immediately, told a hearing of the House of Representatives' Commission II on home and legal affairs.

Idul Fitri Muslim holiday this year will fall on Dec. 6, a national holiday.

A majority of Muslims, including state officials, usually go back to their home villages to celebrate Idul Fitri with their relatives and there are very few public services during the holidays.

Jusuf took issue with the public's impression that the KPKPN had been sluggish in carrying out the investigation.

In the high profile Rachman case, the commission has had three members working on it for the past 13 months.

"We are not experiencing any problems in investigating the case. However, it takes times to complete the investigation as the team has to summon witnesses and must double check all information before reaching a conclusion," said Jusuf.

Rachman has been on the hot seat, as he is suspected of concealing, among other things, a luxury house in Depok, south of Jakarta, reportedly worth Rp 5 billion from his wealth report to the commission.

The case has drawn a great amount of public attention and public outrage has run deep, as Rachman has frequently given conflicting statements, but moreso because he is one of the highest legal officials in the country and tasked with rooting out the very type of corruption he is accused of.

The team grilled 15 attorney general's office staff people, including Rachman, said Jusuf. He refused to reveal when Rachman would be questioned again, saying that "it was too technical."

Meanwhile, legislators stepped up pressure on KPKPN to speed up the investigation, saying a quick investigation into the case was badly needed to avoid confusion among the public.

"The investigation's results are much awaited because they will be used by relevant authorities, including President Megawati Soekarnoputri, as a guide to decide the Attorney General's fate," Dwi Ria Latifa of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction said.

Julius Usman, also from PDI Perjuangan faction, concurred and added that the KPKPN could risk of losing the people's confidence if the investigation could not be completed immediately.

"The commission must shed some light into the truth behind the case so that the public knows where Rachman's assets came from," he said.

Meanwhile, the legislators refused comment about speculation of "an ongoing competition" among politicians to replace Rachman.