Police shooting antigraft body?

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Fri, 07/03/2009 9:13 AM  |  National

A corruption watchdog was questioning political motives behind the police publicizing the wiretapping abuse issue and the slow investigation of murder suspect Antasari Azhar, which was apparently aimed at discouraging the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

The Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) Deputy Coordinator Emerson Yuntho said Thursday he was suspicious the police had stalled on Antasari’s case in their attempt to back up “the joint attack” on the anti-graft body.

“I have seen the signal that certain people continue making statements potentially downgrading the KPK,” he told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Antasari, the suspended KPK chief, has been detained since early March for his alleged involvement in the murder of Nasruddin Zulkarnaen, the director of state-owned PT Putra Rajawali Banjaran, but so far his dossier has not been completed.

Dossiers of eight other suspects in the same case, including media businessman Sigid Haryo Wibisono and former South Jakarta Police Chief Sr. Comr. Wiliardi Wizar, have been handed to prosecutors.

Emerson said the wiretapping issue raised by Chief Detective Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji statement has “successfully” caused the public to question the KPK’s wiretapping authority.

By maintaining Antasari’s detention, he said, the police could freely “exploit” him, including any informations related to the KPK.

“ICW is urging the police to finish their investigation of Antasari in the murder case to end speculation on discouraging the KPK in their eradication of corruption.”

The longer Antasari was in the police’s custody, he added, the more opportunities for certain groups of people to continue their war on the KPK.

Susno revealed Wednesday his telephone had been wiretapped in connection to the Bank Century-Antaboga scandal.

Rumors were circulating the KPK had wiretapped Susno and had recorded him asking for a US$18 million bribe. Susno denied such accusations.

However, the media report on Susno’s statement followed the questioning on June 19 by the Jakarta Police of the KPK Deputy Chief Chandra Hamzah by the Jakarta Police in connection with the alleged KPK wiretapping abuses, which Emmerson said aimed to discredit the antigraft body. (bbs)

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