KPK orders Megawati to suspend Puteh for corruption probe

KPK orders Megawati to suspend Puteh for corruption probe

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta

Amid apparent government reluctance, the newly established
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has ordered President
Megawati Soekarnoputri to suspend alleged corruptor Nanggroe Aceh
Darussalam Governor Abdullah Puteh following the governor's
uncooperativeness toward the commission.

The commission set Friday as the deadline for the President,
who had boasted that she would soon suspend the governor in her
campaign speech, to dismiss Puteh.

The commission has also issued an order for Puteh's arrest
should he refuse to come to Jakarta on Wednesday to face
questioning in connection with the alleged mark-up in the
purchase of a helicopter by the Aceh administration in 2002 that
costs the state Rp 4 billion (US$5.4 million) in losses.

"We have sent the letter directly to Pak Bambang Kesowo (the
state secretary). We hope the President received the letter
today," commission chairman Taufiqurrahman Ruki told a news
conference after a leadership meeting with House of
Representatives Commission II on legal and domestic affairs.

In its letter, the commission informed the President that it
would use its legal authority to force Puteh to succumb to
questioning since he had ignored two previous summonses.

"We summoned him for questioning on July 6. He said he could
not make it due to his duties as governor and chief of the state
of civil emergency. He said he would come on July 9 instead. We
accepted that and sent another summons for questioning on July 9.
Still, he did not come," Ruki said.

Article 12 paragraph E of Law No. 30/2002 on the KPK states
that the commission has the authority to memerintahkan (order)
the supervisor of the suspect to suspend him/her from his/her
position.

Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno has always played down
the significance of the governor's case. The Indonesian Military
(TNI), which in the beginning was very outspoken about the
governor's alleged corruption case, has recently become silent.

"We have issued an order for his arrest should he refuse to
come (for questioning)," Ruki asserted, saying that the
commission had notified the Jakarta Police Headquarters to be
prepared to arrest him.

Many have yet to recognize the extensive authority of the six-
month-old commission, which has been referred to as a superbody.

The law on the KPK, which was set up by both the government
and the House, grants the commission extensive powers in a bid to
reduce rampant corruption in the country after the police and the
Attorney General's Office failed to do so.

A. Teras Narang, who heads Commission II, said the commission
fully supported the KPK in using its powers to reduce corruption
in the country.

"We stand by the KPK as long as it does the job according to
the law," he said, adding that the KPK is an independent body in
which no person or institution could interfere.

Teras explained that Article 46 of the law on the KPK states
that it replaces other specific laws concerning suspects who are
state officials to ensure smooth investigation.

The law on special autonomy, which requires the central
government to secure approval from the local legislature council
before suspending a governor, therefore, is not applicable in the
case of Puteh.

Legal experts earlier suggested that the commission use its
powers to ensure that the investigation of Puteh ran smoothly,
which benefit the commission's reputation.

Many have doubts as to whether the commission will be able to
bring Puteh to justice due to his close relationship with those
in power in Jakarta and Aceh.

According to law, once the KPK declares it will investigate a
corruption case, it must finish the investigation and prosecution
by taking the suspects to court.