Police and AGO pledge to anticorruption body

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.