KPK told to submit cases to Anticorruption Court

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Supreme Court reminded the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Tuesday to submit high-profile cases to the anticorruption court, which is now operational.

Supreme Court deputy chief justice Marianna Sutadi said the court could start hearing cases as President Megawati Soekarnoputri inaugurated nine noncareer judges last week, in addition to the six career judges installed earlier.

"The KPK can submit cases anytime, because the court is ready," she said at her office.

The court will hear corruption cases at the Central Jakarta District Court in line with Law No. 30/2002 on the antigraft commission.

"All the judges have undergone special training and the Central Jakarta District Court will handle the administration of cases, as it has done for cases heard by the commercial court and the ad hoc human rights tribunal," she said.

Marianna said there was no reason to delay the operation of the anticorruption court.

"No coordination (with the KPK) is needed. Just file the case with the court," she said.

KPK deputy chairman Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean has said the commission is currently completing the prosecution of two graft cases, involving officials of the Ministry of Communications and Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh.

"We expect to submit at least two cases to the court this October," he said.

The KPK expects to submit the corruption case involving communications ministry officials Harun Letlet and Col. Tarsisius Walla. The two are charged with marking up the cost of constructing a seaport in Maluku, which caused the state some Rp 10 billion in losses.

The second case involves Puteh, who is suspected of involvement in an alleged mark up in the purchase of a Russian helicopter. The graft caused an estimated Rp 4 billion in state losses.

Anticorruption judges have been installed to hear cases at district, high and supreme court levels.

A case will be heard by a panel of five judges.

The anticorruption court will only hear high-profile corruption cases submitted by the KPK.

The KPK only deals with corruption cases that cost the state a minimum of Rp 1 billion and involve state officials. It is also obliged to monitor and deter corruption practices across the country.

Since its establishment in January of this year, the KPK has been investigating six graft cases.