Court to play controversial recording

Hans David Tampubolon ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 11/03/2009 11:23 AM  |  Headlines

Plenty of Indonesians will turn on their TV and attune their ears to watch one of the most important tape recordings in the nation’s history, which will be played at the Constitutional Court in Jakarta on Monday.

The recording contains wiretapped conversations featuring several high-ranking figures within the country’s law enforcement institutions, as well as Anggodo Widjojo, who is the younger brother of graft fugitive Anggoro Widjojo, and broker Ary Muladi.

One prominent law enforcement official who has been recorded on the tape is Deputy Attorney General Abdul Hakim Ritonga.

Broadcasting the recording today could also be the climax of the escalating battle between the National Police and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), becoming more popularly known as the battle between the cicak and the buaya (lizard and the crocodile).

The central discussion of the recording is allegedly a fabrication plot to weaken the KPK.

Ritonga is considered to be the mastermind, based on an unofficial transcript circulating in the media.

In a part of the recording, it was claimed President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was involved.

The police arrested the two suspended KPK deputy chairmen, Chandra M. Hamzah and Bibit Samad Riyanto, who were charged with bribery and abuse of power.

The police argued Chandra and Bibit had held too many press conferences that might disturb the investigation process, despite the fact Ritonga had requested the police drop the case due to lack of evidence and for “the sake of friendship”.

The police’s decision to arrest the KPK deputies has apparently ignited fury from the public, who deem the police are doing nothing but carrying out an agenda of vengeance against the KPK.

Critics accused the police of acting “indiscriminately” after the antigraft body managed to wiretap one of the high-ranking police officials, Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji, during a phone discussion that hinted at the possibility Susno would receive bribes.

Public support for Chandra and Bibit continues to grow, whether offline or online, via social networking sites such as Facebook.

For example, a Facebook group supporting Chandra and Hamzah had reached almost 500,000 members during the time of writing.

Despite mounting public pressure, the police have stood firm in their opposition and allegedly tried to seize the recording from the KPK.

However, Constitutional Court chief Mahfud M.D. told Antara in Surabaya, East Java, on Monday the police had no right to seize the recording before it was played at the court.

“A ruling has been issued for the recording to be played before the Constitutional Court.

“Once we have heard the recording, then the police can have it. If the police want, we can personally deliver the recording to them,” he said.

“There is no reason for the police to seize the recording.

“They can find out about its truth on Tuesday,” he added.

The recording to be played tomorrow will also be attended by Yudhoyono’s fact-finding team, recently established to settle the issue between the police and the KPK.

“Our main job is to verify anything related to the issue, including this recording.

“We will attend the play of the recording and we'll be listening carefully,” team member Amir Syamsuddin from the legal department at Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party said.

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