KPK's month-long secretive probe pays off

Abdul Khalik ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 06/02/2008 10:20 AM  |  Headlines

The Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) unannounced search of the Tanjung Priok customs and excise office last Friday apparently succeeded in catching officials by surprise.

Dozens of officials at the office in North Jakarta rushed to their desks in a panic Friday afternoon, yelling: "The KPK is coming, the KPK is coming!"

However, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators moved faster, asking them to stay put as the surprise search began.

KPK investigators dispersed to all corners of the building, searching rooms, bags and drawers during the blitz raid to find evidence of bribery that has allegedly been common at the office for years.

"Nobody move or touch anything," several KPK investigators shouted as the search went on.

By midnight, investigators had found Rp 500 million in cash in envelopes, bags and drawers belonging to four officials, allegedly from businesspeople wanting to make their goods leave the port quickly or without proper checking.

The KPK investigators, mostly young, searched through the night without resting, questioning some 80 people by Saturday afternoon.

"Nobody knew we were coming. We only informed the (finance) minister and the customs and excise director general. Only 10 minutes before we got to the office, we let the Tanjung Priok customs head know," KPK deputy chairman for prevention Muhammad Jasin told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

He said KPK officials had kept the operation a secret since beginning surveillance activities on the customs office one month ago.

The office has been listed as a KPK target since the anti-graft body was established in 2004. However, only in April of this year did a surveillance plan materialize.

The investigation kicked off with phone tapping of the customs officials, which is permissible under the law. Some investigators then went undercover, posing as import-export business owners to conduct deals with officials.

"It was a difficult surveillance as most of the customs officials have several mobile phones. Some even have six phones. And officials did not directly receive the money as they are generally paid through couriers, security personnel and cleaning service workers," Jasin said.

The money, mostly kept inside envelopes bearing the names of the companies owning the goods, changed hands outside of office rooms, such as in the restroom, parking lot or a restaurant.

The KPK took pictures of the bribes taking place, and wiretapped the conversations. Jasin reported the findings to the finance minister and the director general of customs and excise, and told them the KPK would raid the office.

"As we already knew which officials were involved by the time we walked in the building, we were able to quickly approach them, giving them no time to dispose of the evidence and the money. They just could not deny our allegations," Jasin said.

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