Why the KPK Released BNPB Secretary-General Despite His Arrest in an Operation

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said Rustian, Secretary-General of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), remains a witness. He was released after intensive questioning over the 24 hours following his arrest in a sting operation on Tuesday (13 October).

“As of last night, following our case review, we had not found any unlawful conduct by the Secretary-General. That was the position last night. That is why there are only five suspects,” KPK chairman Setyo Budiyanto said in Yogyakarta on Wednesday (14 October).

Rustian declined to answer questions from reporters. Wearing a white shirt, he left the KPK’s Red and White Building in South Jakarta at about 2.50pm.

The KPK has named five people as suspects in an alleged bribery and conflict-of-interest case concerning contingency funds for disaster response.

According to information obtained by CNNIndonesia.com, the suspects are Gabriel Purwaka Sigit, head of the BNPB’s Aid and Emergency Management Subdirectorate and commitment-making official; BNPB chief Suharyanto’s expert advisers Bima Setyawan and Richard Erlangga; and private-sector individuals Gery P and Syifa NG.

Bima is understood to be Suharyanto’s younger brother.

Asked about the relationship between Bima and Suharyanto in connection with the case, Setyo said investigators were pursuing the case on the basis of the evidence, not a person’s background.

“We have received that information, but it will be confirmed again later because we are not concerned with who someone is. Accountability is sought from the person who committed, or is suspected of committing, an unlawful act,” Setyo said.

The suspects have been detained at the KPK’s detention centre for an initial period of 20 days.