KPK tells whistle blowers to blow quietly

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) suggested on Wednesday that people who wish to provide tip-offs on corruption matters keep a low profile and save their report only for the antigraft body.

Otherwise, it could backfire and the whistle-blowers could in turn be charged with libel.

Data from the commission revealed that there have been three cases where whistle-blowers were counterattacked by the parties or individuals they had reported.

The most publicized example was the case of Abdul Malik Jan, who reported PT. Bhakti Investama Tbk to the KPK for alleged corruption. The company then filed a suit against Abdul for alleged slander and defamation.

Feeling unprotected by the KPK, Abdul published a rather sarcastic apology to the company in the Bisnis Indonesia daily, saying that he regretted his decision to pass information on alleged corruption to the commission.

Junino Jahja, the commission's deputy on complainants and internal affairs, said protection for whistle-blowers would only be effective if the latter were discreet.

"KPK is obliged to protect anyone who provides information to it. But how can we protect them if they don't give the information to us exclusively, but also give it to other parties, including the media?" he told a media discussion.

As a result, many whistle-blowers are instead accused of defamation or even character assassination.

There was a case of a woman who gave information about a graft case and subsequently became a fugitive.

"However, we will still protect informers no matter what," Junino said.

Regarding the defamation and slander cases, the National Police chief has issued a circular stating that complaints that follow a corruption case will not be considered a priority.

According to Junino, this means that defamation accusations will not be processed until a court acquits the graft suspect.

"So, people don't have to worry about sharing information on alleged corruption with us," he said.

Informers will be fully protected by the KPK and the police, who will, if necessary, provide them with new identities.

Up until Tuesday, the KPK has received 4,862 reports of alleged corruption, but only about 32 percent of them have been followed up.

"Legal processes take a long time. Besides, not all the reports can be followed up, because many of them are not clear or complete," Junino said.

Some reports are trivial disputes between siblings, while others are too politicized, involving, for example, contestants of regional elections who report one another.

Cases involving candidates in regional elections, however, will not be processed until the elections are over for fear of politicization.

KPK admitted, however, that it was too focused on high profile cases such as the case involving the General Elections Commission (KPU). Four KPU officials have been declared suspects and detained.

"We have around 20 investigators, and 70 percent of them are handling the KPU case," said Anatomi Mulyana, KPK's deputy on legal affairs.