SUMMARY:

On Tuesday, March 17, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) once again questioned graft convict and former Democrat party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin to follow up on allegations that other party members were involved in high levels of corruption, bid-fixing and graft. During his interrogation, Nazaruddin implicated Democrat party secretary Edhie “Ibas” Baskoro Yudhoyono, who is also the son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Nazaruddin alleged that Ibas received kick-backs from alleged mark-ups in the procurement of medical equipment for a Balinese hospital.

As the KPK prepares to defend its case against Hadi Poernomo in pre-trial proceedings slated to start at the end of the month, former KPK commissioner Busyro Muqoddas called on the Supreme Court to issue an edict to instruct all lower court judges to reject pre-trial motions aimed at reconsidering a suspect’s legal status. Busyro criticized the Supreme Court for its perceived passivity in addressing what he described as a dangerous precedent that would overwhelm not only the KPK, but also the police and the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), as suspects sought to have their charges dropped. Corruption suspects Sutan Bhatoegana and Suryadharma Ali have also filed pre-trial motions to combat their classification as “suspects” by the KPK.

On Tuesday, March 17, M. “Romy” Rommahurmuziy, who has been legally recognized as the public head of the United Development Party (PPP) amid an internal power struggle, voiced his support for the Presidential decree in lieu of regulation (Perppu) that instated interim KPK Commissioners Taufiqurrahman Ruki, Indriyanto Seno Adj and Johan Budi. A Perppu is a temporary legal measure aimed at addressing an emergency situation, in this case the vacancy of three KPK commissioner positions. However, it must be approved by the House of Representatives (DPR) in order to take permanent effect. The DPR is expected to vote on the Perppu, as well as to hold confirmation hearings for National Police chief-nominee Badrodin Haiti, soon after it returns from recess on Monday, March 23. Haiti told media on Tuesday, March 17, that he had the full support of former police chief-nominee Budi Gunawan, and that the former top-cop candidate would help him prepare for the confirmation hearings.

The National Police again stood firm against allegations that the cases against inactive KPK Chair Abraham Samad and inactive KPK Vice Chair Bambang Widjojanto had been manufactured. In an interview on Tuesday, March 17, National Police Detectives Unit Director Budi Waseso said that the pair was welcome to challenge their status via a pre-trial motion, which had in his opinion proven that the charges against Budi Gunawan were baseless. Waseso went on to highlight the importance of leadership that is open, transparent and free from corruption and political influence. He closed the interview by pointing out that members of the police force need not be concerned about insufficient salaries. He said, “I always say that we should never complain about our salaries, but that we should strive to build friendships instead. That’s why being a police officer is so rewarding because it’s so easy to make friends. For example, I don’t have a luxury car but I do have rich friends that own them. Whenever I ask to borrow the car they always comply.”

Activists have criticized President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s position that the KPK should increasingly focus on preventative efforts, as was made clear after his meeting with KPK commissioners on Monday, March 16. Ade Irawan, deputy coordinator of Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), urged the President to consider that the KPK was created as an extraordinary legal body to tackle entrenched corruption, both in the police and political spheres. “Don’t let the KPK become Corruption ‘Prevention’ Commission because it is actually the Corruption ‘Eradication’ Commission… Theoretically, prevention and prosecution efforts should be balanced, as both are important, but at this current juncture where corruption is rampant, it is more important to emphasize prosecution,” he said, as quoted by The Jakarta Post.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS:

Wednesday, March 11 – National Police announce cases against inactive KPK commissioners will be delayed

Thursday, March 12 – Bambang Widjojanto delivers letter requesting delay of investigation to National Police

Thursday, March 12 – Denny Indrayana refuses to answer police questions without legal counsel

Friday, March 13 – Badrodin Haiti pledges to resume investigations into Bambang, Abraham next month

Sunday, March 15 – Attorney General states KPK case on Budi Gunawan is lacking evidence and will be sent to police for follow-up

Monday, March 16 – Corruption suspect Hadi Poernomo files pre-trial motion for dismissal

Tuesday, March 17 – Busyro Muqqodas calls for Supreme Court intervention against pre-trial motions

Tuesday, March 17 – Nazaruddin implicates Edhie “Ibas” Baskoro Yudhoyono in testimony at KPK

IMPLICATIONS:

PPP, along with the Golkar party, has been beset by internal divisions and competing claims for control of legitimate leadership in recent weeks. Internal party rifts may affect coalition partnerships and voting behavior in the DPR; however, the likelihood that the DPR strikes down the Perppu and refuses to confirm Haiti is exceedingly slim. Interestingly, in ruling on which rival faction legitimately leads PPP and Golkar, Law and Human Rights Minister Yasona Laoly may find himself under fire by disappointed factions, and in jeopardy of losing his position.

Although Budi Waseso pays lip service to the ideas of transparency and the importance of fighting corruption, his claims are difficult to believe on face value. Many suspect his motives to provide additional investigators to the KPK to speed up the processing of its case load are far from benign, and his brazen endorsement of the acceptance of gratuities to supplement salary shortages is deeply troubling.

Despite endorsing Badrodin Haiti as the police chief-nominee, Budi Gunawan continues to wield significant influence within the National Police. Two of his staff, Erwin Triwanto and Anton Charliyan, received promotions in a reshuffle reported on Tuesday, March 17. Erwin was promoted to Yogyakarta Police chief, while Anton was promoted to head of public relations.

Jokowi’s statements and policy guidance continue to disappoint his former supporters, who believed he would take a strong stance against corruption. His encouragement for the KPK to focus on prevention efforts have been taken as another setback in the fight against corruption, and a weakening of the country’s anti-corruption agenda. Activists continue to urge him to provide full political support to the KPK, but the President and his ministers persistently maintain a luke-warm attitude toward the anti-graft agency.

Information as of 5:30 p.m. WIB, March 17, 2015