KPK to probe corruption case at National Police

Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said on Thursday it would take over an internal police investigation into alleged corruption at the National Police regarding the purchase of telecommunications equipment worth millions of dollars.

KPK chairman Taufiqurrahman Ruki said the investigation into the case would be more effective if it was carried out by the commission's investigators instead of police.

The graft case centered into an alleged mark-up in the purchase price of a telecommunications system for the police worth Rp 602 billion (US$63 million) last year. There has been strong criticism of the police for moving too slowly in the investigation.

Taufiqurrahman made the statement after signing a memorandum of understanding with the National Police on Thursday, which would increase the KPK's capacity to investigate graft in the country.

The signing was made prior to the inauguration of new National Police Chief Gen. Sutanto on Friday. Sutanto, who is currently the head of the national narcotics division, officially became a four-star general on Thursday.

The agreement would allow the KPK to utilize police facilities including a forensic laboratory, eavesdropping equipment, and provide it with detention and training centers.

Earlier on Wednesday during a hearing with the House of Representatives Commission III on legal affairs, Taufiqurrahman complained about the KPK's limited ability to investigate more than 5,000 graft cases.

"With this agreement, we also asked the police to help us in capacity building, especially in providing facilities and training centers because KPK does not have any of these facilities right now," Ruki said.

Ruki said the KPK planned to recruit and train new investigators to deal with its increased workload, which would be resource intensive.

"We also need police facilities, such as forensic laboratory to check document forgeries, equipment to wire-tap conversations and most importantly, prisons, because we don't have special centers to detain suspects," Ruki said.

He said he had high hopes the agreement would make it easier for both agencies to work together in the future.

Along with handling corruption inquiries within the force, the KPK would also process reports of the personal wealth of police personnel, especially high-ranking officers, including outgoing national police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar.

"Pak Da'i has already received a asset report form from me and he told me that he would fill it out and submit it to me next week," Ruki said.

The KPK would also ask for the police's assistance to investigate the assets of government officials. However, it would not monopolize the investigation of graft cases into the country, with the police free to carry out their own inquiries, he said.

"We will also supervise graft probes conducted by the police."

Police, Attorney General's Office investigators and audit office officials would be expected to join KPK programs training graft investigators, Ruki said.