MAKI Reminds KPK to Correct Itself After Transferring Yaqut's Detention
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinator of the Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) Boyamin Saiman has reminded the KPK to introspect itself after secretly transferring the detention of former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.
“Therefore, the KPK must correct itself by re-detaining him so that the public is not disappointed, as this will damage the system and the anti-corruption efforts themselves,” Boyamin said in Jakarta on Sunday.
Boyamin described the KPK’s method of secretly transferring Yaqut’s detention as a rare action that has never occurred since the anti-corruption agency was established in 2003.
According to him, the KPK deserves a MURI record for this secret transfer.
“Congratulations to the KPK for breaking the record and deserving entry into MURI because since its establishment in 2003, it has never carried out a detention transfer,” he stated.
Boyamin said that the KPK’s action has shocked the public and caused annoyance.
“Why? It’s annoying because it was done secretly. It was only revealed after the wife of Noel (Immanuel Ebenezer), the former Deputy Minister of Manpower, informed the mass media and there were complaints from other detainees,” he explained.
“Other detainees complained, especially from the Indonesian public,” he added.
Furthermore, he continued, the transfer was only confirmed after media reports and complaints, and it was opened by Noel’s wife.
“Unless this was opened and announced from the beginning, no problem, but this was done secretly, and even the reason was additional examinations for other detainees, but they were not returned (to detention),” he said.
Boyamin stated that the KPK’s attitude has been disappointing, has broken the record for secrecy, and was not announced.
He noted that this action will also cause systemic damage where other detainees will demand the same thing. If not granted, it means there is discrimination.
“Later, other detainees will also request detention transfers or external detention or house detention or city detention or whatever,” he said.
Boyamin emphasised that KPK detainees have always been sacrosanct and untouchable. Being tampered with like this now creates interpretations in society.
“The public can speculate whether this is due to pressure? Yes, it could be pressure from power, but even worse if it’s financial pressure, that is very painful,” he stressed.
Boyamin also highlighted the KPK spokesperson’s explanation that transferring Yaqut’s detention is the investigator’s authority.
According to him, that statement is not quite right. Moreover, the KPK has leadership; there must be permission and authorisation from the KPK leadership.
“Is it true that this is only the investigator or has there already been authorisation from the KPK leadership? Well, this is even worse. If the KPK itself does not have permission from the KPK leadership,” he said.
According to him, the KPK must be honest from the beginning if Yaqut’s detention is suspended or transferred to external detention with the approval of the KPK leadership on the investigator’s proposal.
“It should be like that if the KPK still adheres to the KPK Law where the principles of the KPK are openness and professionalism,” he said.
He emphasised that everything must be opened and fully explained, not hidden, and saying that this is the investigator’s authority is wrong.
“Because the KPK is the KPK leadership. The investigator is part of the KPK organ itself,” he stated.
Therefore, Boyamin said, re-detention must be carried out. If a detainee is ill, it must be announced and transferred to a hospital, not to a home.
He also requested that the KPK Supervisory Board act quickly to process this action as a suspected violation of the code of ethics without waiting for public complaints.
MAKI, he continued, will file a pre-trial lawsuit if the corruption case regarding the alleged increase in the 2024 Hajj quota is not handled seriously or stalls.
Because the new Criminal Procedure Code, Law Number 20 of 2025, states that Article 158 letter e makes unlawful delays an object of pre-trial.
“So, this is actually an indication that with this detention transfer, there will be delays. If later he is not re-detained or it takes a long time without being brought to court, MAKI will file a pre-trial lawsuit,” Boyamin said.