KPK to probe corruption case at National Police

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.