Police and AGO pledge to anticorruption body

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The anticorruption body received on Tuesday pledges of support from the National Police and Attorney General's Office for its "superpower" duties in investigating and trying corruption cases.

"Today, we discussed how the KPK and the police can work hand in hand in corruption cases. The police will provide everything the KPK needs, including all case files and personnel," said National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar after a meeting with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

"It's up to the KPK to choose those cases they want to handle," he added.

The police and Attorney General's Office are obligated under the law on the anticorruption commission to supply any assistance requested by the commission.

The KPK chief, former police officer Taufiequrrachman Ruki, and KPK members Amien Suryadi, Syahruddin Rasul and Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean were present at the meeting. Only Erry Riyana Harjapamekas was absent.

"The cooperation will empower both parties to solve corruption cases, which are more difficult because they involve white-collar actors," Da'i said.

He underlined the police's readiness to work under the KPK's supervision in corruption cases.

Ruki said the police had given real commitment in regards the commission's preventive and investigative efforts in corruption cases.

"We have no investigators and no prosecutors. We'll request the assistance of investigators from the police and prosecutors from the Attorney General's Office. Initially, we will ask for 30 police investigators," he said.

He added that the KPK would select five or six corruption cases to investigate as soon as the commission was organized.

Attorney General's Office spokesman Kemas Yahya Rachman echoed the police, saying it would "provide any assistance required".

The KPK was established according to Law No. 30/2002 on the anticorruption commission to replace the now defunct Public Officials' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN), which was long criticized for being toothless.

While the KPKPN was only authorized to research and record the wealth of state officials, the KPK has the power to investigate graft cases and to prosecute those involved, and can take over corruption investigations from both the police and the Attorney General's Office.