KPK may question Korlantas graft suspect

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators will possibly question Brig. Gen. Didik Purnomo, a key suspect in a graft case centering on the procurement of driving simulators by the National Police Traffic Corps (Korlantas) in 2011, although the questioning will not take place at KPK headquarters.

"Pak Sutarman [National Police detectives chief] called me [on Tuesday] to say that he would allow the KPK to question Didik on one condition: We have to question him at his place of detention," Busyro said, adding that Sutarman did not mention the two other suspects: businessmen Budi Susanto and Sukotjo S. Bambang, who are currently being detained at the National Police detention center in Jakarta and the Kebon Waru Penitentiary in Bandung, West Java, respectively. As for Didik, he is being detained at the police's Mobile Brigade(Brimob) headquarters in Kelapa Dua, Depok.

Busyro said the KPK would be happy to carry out the questioning as stipulated, adding that he would pass on the request to the KPK's director for prosecutions, Warih Sadono.

"The team of investigators will arrange the time frame forquestioning," he added.

Busyro denied speculation that the KPK had succumbed to the police request after struggling to prosecute the graft case implicating former National Police Traffic Corps chief, Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo, when the National Police insisted on conducting their own separate investigation.

"That is merely the public's opinion but it is incorrect," he said.

The state allegedly lost Rp 100 billion (US$10.45 million) in the Rp 198.7 billion procurement fraud. (iwa)