Susilo concerned by KPK, Supreme Court rift

Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The ongoing debate over Chief Justice Bagir Manan's refusal to appear at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for questioning will act as a discouragement to the nation's anticorruption drive, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said.

The President said poor relations and coordination between the two institutions, which are supposed to be spearheading the country's fight against corruption, would undermine future efforts in fighting the scourge.

"I expect that the two institutions will do their jobs without creating new problems that will disrupt the country's administration," Susilo told a press conference on Wednesday.

Accompanied by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Susilo had an unprecedented meeting with Bagir and KPK chairman Taufikurahman Ruki at the presidential office to discuss the dispute, as well as other issues related to reform of the judiciary.

The Supreme Court and the KPK have been involved in a dispute following Bagir's refusal to be questioned by KPK investigators in connection with bribery allegations involving former president Soeharto's half-brother Probosutedjo.

Probosutedjo admitted to having paid Rp 16 billion (US$1.6 million) to bribe prosecutors and judges, including Rp 6 billion for a Bagir-led panel of justices that heard the businessman's appeal.

While asserting that the government was not attempting to intervene in the case, Susilo underscored the interest of the government in ensuring that the two institutions functioned properly.

"I am not trying to make them sign a peace deal since they are basically not at war. I only have an interest in ensuring that they do their jobs well and avoid any political tension that could disrupt their main function," he said.

Bagir dismissed accusations that he was not cooperating with the KPK in uncovering the case, which also implicates Supreme Court justices Usman Karim and Parman Suparman.

Bagir, whose office was searched by KPK investigators looking for evidence of bribery last month, had earlier declared that he was ready to be questioned by the commission. But he failed to fulfill the KPK's summons on Monday, saying the commission did not provide him with questions in advance.

"I will comply with the KPK's efforts to uncover this case. It is just a technical matter that prevented me from complying with the KPK's request. I am ready to be questioned without any conditions.

"I had four meetings to attend and other activities on Monday. I had informed the KPK chairman of that, and he agreed to reschedule the questioning. There is no problem at all on my side," he said.

KPK chairman Taufikurahman confirmed that Bagir had notified him directly regarding the rescheduling. The KPK would now be more "flexible" in summoning Bagir for questioning, Taufikurahman added.

"Some suspects have implicated Bagir in the bribery. Therefore, we need him to clarify it as an ordinary judge dealing with a case. But anyway, the problem has been settled and we hope to question him soon," said Taufikurahman.

The meeting on Wednesday was also aimed at seeking more funds to finance the operations of the cash-strapped Supreme Court.

The 2005 state budget allocated Rp 2 trillion for Supreme Court operational costs, far below the minimum demand of around Rp 5 trillion.

"The Supreme Court has been neglected financially by the government for a long time, which has caused a delay in our efforts to reform the judiciary," said Bagir.