Prabowo Urged to Cleanse Law Enforcement Agencies

Director of Rumah Politik Indonesia, Fernando Emas, has urged President Prabowo Subianto to fully support the National Police’s efforts to investigate alleged corruption cases involving the Attorney General’s Office. He stated that the President must ensure there is no intervention or attempt to obstruct the legal process, including by involving members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). The call follows public attention on the guarding of the residence of the Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus), Febrie Adriansyah, by TNI personnel. This incident drew scrutiny after the Police’s Corruption Eradication Corps (Kortas Tipikor) and the Metro Jaya Police’s Special Criminal Investigation Directorate conducted searches at several locations and reportedly found Rp476 billion in cash and 74 kilograms of gold. Fernando noted that the police have yet to provide an explanation regarding the findings, leading to various speculations among the public linking the searches to the TNI’s guarding of Febrie’s residence. He argued that the situation is problematic because the security was provided at the request of the Attorney General’s Office, an institution that should be supporting the police’s law enforcement efforts, even when they target fellow law enforcement officials. ‘As a law enforcement institution, they should comply with and support all law enforcement efforts carried out by the Police, even if it is against the Prosecutor’s Office itself,’ Fernando said. He reminded all parties not to hinder the legal process, including by involving the TNI. Fernando stated that President Prabowo must demonstrate his commitment to supporting the eradication of corruption, including within law enforcement institutions. He urged the Head of State to immediately order the TNI Commander to withdraw personnel guarding Febrie’s residence, emphasising that the TNI’s primary duty is defence, not security, especially amid suspicions that the guard was related to the police searches. Furthermore, Fernando warned against any attempts to protect suspected corruptors or resist anti-corruption efforts. ‘No one should try to protect suspected corruptors and resist the eradication of corruption, because the people will be their opponent,’ he said. Fernando assessed that this momentum should be used by Prabowo to reform law enforcement agencies, suggesting that the clean-up could start with the Attorney General’s Office to maintain public trust in law enforcement.