S

ome lawmakers are criticizing Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for cherry-picking its battles following the arrest of lawmaker Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq last week in the government import beef bribe scandal.

In the first hearing of House Commission III overseeing legal affairs held with the KPK’s leaders following Luthfi’s arrest and subsequent resignation from the House and as Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chairman, the party’s lawmakers came out swinging.

PKS lawmaker Indra accused the KPK of targeting politicians at the expense of investigating high-ranking state officials for cases such as the contentious Bank Century bailout.

“It’s been two months since you named BM and SCF as suspects in the case, but they are still walking free out there,” Indra said. “Isn’t clear to you that [Vice President] Boediono is also responsible? Is it possible for both deputy governors to make the [bailout] decision without approval from the governor?”

Indra was referring to former deputy Bank Indonesia (BI) governors Budi Mulia and Siti Chalimah Fadjrijah and Vice President Boediono, who was then BI governor.

While the hearing was convened to evaluate the commission’s performance in 2012, PKS lawmakers were quick to say that the KPK had unfairly charged and detained their former leader.

Another PKS lawmaker, Aboebakar Al Habsy, said that Luthfi‘s arrest had sent a wave of fear through the nation’s politicians.

“Leaders of political parties are now pondering if tomorrow will be their turn.”

Luthfi has been accused of using his influence at the Agriculture Ministry, which is led by PKS politician Suswono, to help a company acquire a slot in a ministry project to procure imported beef.

Leaders of the Islamic party, which has previously touted its reputation as a clean and corruption-free institution, have said there was a conspiracy behind Luthfi’s arrest.

Other lawmakers at the hearing soon followed suit, launching into their own diatribes against the commission.

Nudirman Munir of the Golkar Party, for example, accused the KPK of harassing lawmakers. “It seems that you have intentionally postponed an announcement of a case in order to stir reaction from us. You have overreacted to us lawmakers. We, for example, don’t understand why it’s so difficult to visit our colleagues that you’ve arrested. Please, with all due respect, stop it.”

Other lawmakers called on the commission to focus on other cases they deemed more urgent or that involved more state funds, such as the Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI) scandal in 2002.

Indra said that in comparison the current beef graft scandal was small potatoes.

Addressing the lawmakers, KPK chairman Abraham Samad said that the commission would thoroughly carry out its investigations.

Abraham declined demands from lawmakers to arrest the vice president, saying that the KPK would make no arrests before securing all relevant evidence and witness testimony.

“We cannot make assumptions about his [Boediono’s] role. It all will be clear later after we finish questioning all the witnesses,” Abraham said.

“Be patient and keep monitoring us to ensure that we’re on track. It’s different from the scandal involving the PKS’ former chairman because the suspects were caught red-handed. We understand that members of the PKS feel that they have been discriminated against.”

KPK deputy chief Busyro Muqoddas said the commission had a formal road map to determine the course of its many graft investigations.

“The road map centers on the handling of huge corruption cases as well as those that involve the national interest. Additionally, we will also implement a fraud control system that aims to detect and prevent small case from developing,” Busyro said.