KPK rejects House invitation due to investigation

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) reaffirmed that it was unable to fulfill an invitation by the House of Representatives to hold a consultation meeting scheduled for Thursday because the commission was conducting an investigation of several lawmakers.

The consultation meeting, the first session of which was supposedly held Tuesday, was proposed so that both parties could discuss the state budget allocation.

"This is to maintain the credibility of the KPK and the [House]. Besides, the KPK is currently investigating a case in the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry," KPK spokesman Johan Budi said Wednesday as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

He added that the commission needed to maintain its credibility by not attending the meeting because the KPK is currently investigating an alleged bribery linked to a project under the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry. The budget for the project was allocated by the House Budgetary Body.

In its investigation, the KPK summoned two chiefs of the budgetary body, Tamsil Linrung and Olly Dondokambey, who have both declined to be questioned.