Minister concerned about possible Gecko vs Crocodile Part 2

Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto said on Tuesday he had called the chiefs of two law enforcement agencies in a bid to prevent rifts between the National Police (Polri) and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Djoko made the calls to KPK chairman Abraham Samad and Polri chief Gen. Timur Pradopo after small incidents occurred when the KPK raided the National Traffic Police headquarters to gather evidence in a case implicating a two-star police general.

“I have told the two leaders to avoid circumstances like that in the past, the gecko versus crocodile. And both of them agreed with me,” Djoko told reporters.

The minister was referring to the conflict between the KPK and the National Police a few years ago which many described as a battle between “gecko and crocodile”. Gecko referred to the KPK while crocodile referred to Polri, a much older and bigger institution.

The intrigues were triggered by a move by the KPK to arrest a police general red-handed trying to frame two of the anti-graft body’s then five leaders.

“What happened in the past between the two law enforcement bodies must not happen again. Both institutions should be in accord instead of fighting each other,” Djoko said.

He also denied that the case was hampered by the two bodies’ desires to gain popularity and public support.

“There is no competition in law enforcement. In fact, the KPK and the police must handle this case together. The media also have to support them by not making reports that may cause the public to think that the two bodies are fighting each other,” Djoko said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the KPK announced that it had named former traffic police chief Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo a suspect in a graft case surrounding the procurement of vehicle simulators. The two-star general is currently the Police Academy governor based in Semarang.

KPK’s investigators raided the National Traffic Police headquarters on Jl. M.T. Haryono in South Jakarta on Monday afternoon and early on Tuesday to collect evidence and were reportedly held in the building because traffic police personnel interfered with the process.

“There was a misunderstanding between the KPK team and the traffic police team, causing the process to be halted. The KPK leaders had met the National Police chief detective to discuss the situation. The KPK team resumed the raid after the discussion,” KPK spokesman Johan Budi said. (nvn)