KPK to hire new members
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will hire some 156 people this year to speed up the investigation of a growing backlog of corruption cases.
"More than 6,000 graft cases have been reported to the KPK and we cannot handle the increasing workload because we do not have the personnel," KPK chairman Taufiqurrahman Ruki was quoted by Antara as saying on Friday.
He feared the KPK's credibility would be harmed if it was unable quickly to resolve the corruption cases.
Taufiqurrahman said the KPK would hire a total of 500 new personnel, but this year would only hire 156, including investigators. The KPK currently has 150 personnel, including 50 investigators and prosecutors.
According to earlier reports, KPK officials receive a basic salary of between Rp 700,000 (US$72) and Rp 42 million a month, much higher than the salaries of civil servants. They also receive housing, health and transportation allowances.
Anyone interested in joining the KPK must submit a completed application and a curriculum vitae to Jakarta-based human resources consultancy firm LPPM, or via e-mail at rekrutmen@lppm.ac.id by July 31 at the latest.
Taufiqurrahman said the use of an independent consultancy firm would help avoid collusion, nepotism and corruption in the hiring process.
He said personnel from the police and prosecutors' offices could apply to the KPK with the approval of their superiors.
The KPK will provide a training program for all new hires.
The commission was set up in 2002 at a time when the police and the Attorney General's Office were coming under fire for their failure to deal with corruption.
According to Law No. 30/2002 on the KPK, the commission has the authority to investigate and prosecute corruption cases involving members of legal institutions, state officials and anyone involved in corruption through legal institution members or state officials. The commission also can investigate graft cases that attract public attention or that cause state losses of at least Rp 1 billion.
In conducting its investigations and prosecutions, the KPK has the authority to tap phones; order travel bans; obtain information from banks and other financial institutions about the finances of suspects or defendants; order banks and other financial institutions to freeze the accounts of suspects, defendants or other relevant parties allegedly containing funds derived from corruption; suspend financial transactions, trade transactions or other agreements; suspend permits and concessions owned by suspects or defendants due to preliminary evidence of corruption; and instruct the police and other relevant institutions to arrest, detain, raid and seize evidence in corruption cases.
The most high-profile graft case involving the KPK was that of suspended Aceh governor Abdullah Puteh, who was sentenced to 10 years in jail for corruption in the purchase of a helicopter for the provincial administration.
The commission is currently investigating alleged corruption at the General Elections Commission (KPU), which could eventually drag down top KPU officials.