SUMMARY:

On the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 4, Former Deputy Law and Human Rights Minister Denny Indrayana was reported to the National Police for defamation of Budi Gunawan. Denny had criticized Budi Gunawan for acting like a “drunken warrior”, by indiscriminately acting out against his critics. He had also penned an op-ed in national daily Kompas calling for a presidential executive order to provide limited immunity for Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) commissioners. Denny has a strong image as a reformer, and gained public popularity for his surprise prison inspections to root out narcotics distribution and corruption within the penal system during his time with the previous government. Indonesia is one of the few countries around the world that still carries criminal penalties for defamation.

Political parties in the DPR continue to call for Budi Gunawan’s inauguration, including those in President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s coaltion. Media reports from Thursday, Feb. 5 indicate that a power-sharing arrangement had been struck which allowed a figure close to NasDem to be appointed as AGO, while PDI-P was supposedly given freedom to appoint its choice of police chief.

Budi Waseso, head of the National Police’s detective division (BARESKRIM), was promoted to a three-star general in a ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 5 at National Police headquarters. Waseso’s advancement may pave his way for consideration as Budi Gunawan’s replacement as National Police chief nominee. Waseso has been leading the implementation of the attack against KPK over recent weeks.  

A number of corruption suspects seem to be taking advantage of the political stand-off between the KPK and National Police to dodge official summons from the anti-graft body. On Wednesday, Feb. 4, former Energy and Natural Resources minister Jero Wacik skipped the KPK summons to testify against the sectary general of his former ministry. Former Religious Affairs minister Suryadharma also skipped his KPK summons on Wednesday in connection to allegations he rigged hajj quotas and embezzled government-managed hajj funds. Suryadharma’s lawyer stated a typographical error on his client’s summons letter needed to be clarified before his client would submit for questioning.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS:

Tuesday, Feb. 3 – KPK Vice Chair Bambang Widjojanto (BW) questioned at police HQ

Tuesday, Feb. 3 – Representatives of Jokowi’s legislative coalition meet at the Presidential Palace to discuss Budi’s pre-trial hearings

Tuesday, Feb. 3 – Ahmad Syafii Maarif, head of the Team of Nine, announces Jokowi has already decided to withdraw Budi Gunawan’s nomination, no independent confirmation of this statement.

Wednesday, Feb. 4 – National Police reveal investigations into remaining KPK commissioners already underway, indictment of Abraham Samad imminent

Wednesday, Feb. 4 – Jero Wacik skips KPK summons as witness against former staffer

Wednesday, Feb. 4 –Denny Indrayana is reported to National Police for defamation of Budi Gunawan

Thursday, Feb. 5 – Budi Waseso is promoted to three-star general

IMPLICATIONS:

The complaint against Denny Indrayana was filed by the executive council of Pekat (Pembela Kesatuan Tanah Air – United Homeland Front), a relatively unknown social organization, with close links to the police. Pekat is chaired by Kalimantan coal baron Markoni Koto and counts a number of retired police generals as its board members. Pekat’s secretary general is Suharto crony Bob Hasan, who was convicted of causing $244 million in state losses through a phony forest mapping project. The charges against Denny indicate the National Police may be employing a larger strategy to silence criticism, and are working hand in glove with non-state actors to advance their agenda. Denny has been one of the most vocal KPK supporters in the recent stand-off.

The timing of Waseso’s promotion timing sends a clear message that actions taken against the KPK are to be rewarded, and Waseso’s statement during the ceremony regarding “traitors” within the police, indicates that he expects total obedience to the current anti-KPK agenda. National daily Tempo reported on the social media movement against Waseso, which has called for him to be fired for his personal and politically motivated persecution of KPK commissioners.

On Thursday, Feb. 5, The Jakarta Post reported “The KPK is now facing a total paralysis, since its four commissioners were charged with criminal offences after it named Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan a bribery suspect on Jan. 13 at the eleventh hour of his expected inauguration as the National Police chief.” While the characterization of “total paralysis” is inaccurate, and its statement that all four commissioners have been charged is – until now – factually incorrect, President Jokowi’s prolonged delay in stating a clear position on the current conflict between the KPK and the National Police has negatively affected the fulfillment of official summons for questioning. Further delays will continue to hamper the KPK’s investigations unless sufficient pressure can be brought to bear to force compliance with its official summons.

COMMISSIONERS’ LEGAL STATUS UPDATE

Abraham Samad – complaint filed with police, under investigation

Adnan Pandu Praja – complaint filed with police, under investigation

Bambang Widjojanto – charged as a suspect

Zulkarnain – complaint filed with police, under investigation