KPK Responds to Ethics Report by Noel Ebenezer's Camp on Yaqut's House Arrest
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has once again responded to an ethics report concerning the transfer of detention for former Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, now submitted by lawyers for the defendant in the alleged extortion and gratification case, Immanuel Ebenezer.
KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo stated that the institution views the report submitted to the KPK Supervisory Board (Dewas) as legitimate.
“The report is part of the public control mechanism guaranteed by legislation,” Budi said when confirmed via written message on Friday (27/3).
“In which public participation is one manifestation of the implementation of KPK’s corruption eradication duties, to ensure the application of principles of transparency and accountability,” he added.
Budi is confident that the KPK Supervisory Board will conduct an objective, independent, and professional assessment in following up on every public report.
That process, he explained, is part of the checks and balances system to maintain institutional integrity and accountability.
“KPK assures that all processes and steps taken in handling cases have been carried out in accordance with mechanisms, procedures, and applicable legal provisions,” Budi said.
On this day, the Central Executive Board (DPP) of the Islamic Brotherhood Advocates reported five KPK leaders to the KPK Supervisory Board over alleged code of ethics violations related to the controversy of house detention for the suspect in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case, as well as former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.
Aziz Yanuar, representing the DPP of the Islamic Brotherhood Advocates, said there were allegations of code of ethics violations in terms of justice, professionalism, transparency, and government ethics related to the change in Yaqut’s detention type.
Aziz, who is currently the lawyer for the defendant in the alleged extortion and gratification case as well as former Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer, also showed the receipt stamp for the ethics code report given by the KPK Supervisory Board.
“What we reported, first the KPK Chairman, then the KPK Vice Chairmen. There are four Vice Chairmen. Then the Deputy for Enforcement and Execution, Deputy for Coordination and Supervision, Director of Investigation, Director of Prosecution, and the Spokesperson,” Aziz said at the KPK’s Red and White Building, Jakarta, on Friday (27/3).
He revealed that there were several values violated by the reported parties behind the change in Yaqut’s detention type. Among them are justice, professionalism, and transparency.
“Why? Because what we need to underline is that to our knowledge this is rare, very rare, there is one anomaly, one extraordinary crime getting a privilege,” he added.
Aziz understands that the change in detention type for corruption suspects is regulated by the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) and other legislation. However, he feels it is odd because corruption falls into the category of extraordinary crime.
“Is it true that all (corruption suspects) can (apply) later? If yes, all KPK detainees want to apply,” he said.