The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has set up a team to investigate the leaking of a document that named Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum a suspect in a graft case.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said the primary objective of the probe was to determine the authenticity of the document.

“The investigative team will be able to conclude whether or not the document originated in the KPK,” he said in a press conference on Tuesday.

Johan maintained that the document, which has been widely circulated since late last week, was not a letter giving the green light to an investigation but only a draft, as indicated by the signatures of only three of the KPK’s commissioners on the letter, rather than the requisite five.

Nevertheless, the letter puts renewed pressure on the KPK to move swiftly against Anas, but the commission does not want to be perceived as acting on behalf of Anas’ rivals within the Democratic Party, who have been clamoring for his departure from the party.

A source within the KPK said that the antigraft body did not hold a case presentation last week, a regular procedure before naming a suspect in a graft case. The lack of a presentation on Anas’ case was an indication, therefore, that the leaked document was not authentic.

Johan said the draft was only accessible to a few officers and directors at the enforcement unit, as well as their deputies and the KPK commissioners.

Separately, KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto said the case presentation would be conducted next week, increasing speculation that Anas has less than a week before being named a suspect.

Anas will likely be charged with accepting a luxurious car, a Toyota Harrier, which according to fellow Democratic Party politician Muhammad Nazaruddin, was a gift by PT Adhi Karya after the company won the Hambalang tender.

Nazaruddin, former Democratic Party treasurer who was indicted for his role in the Hambalang case, also accused Anas of swindling Rp 100 billion (US$10.3 million) from the Hambalang sports center construction funds, money that he would later use to finance his campaign for the party chairmanship during the Democratic Party congress in
Bandung in 2010.

Bambang said the commissioners had agreed to hold a meeting on Monday next week, at which all the KPK’s senior officials would be present, to hear a presentation on Anas’ graft case.

“If next week all the officials are in attendance, then we will conduct the case presentation,” he said as quoted by tempo.co.

The KPK has repeatedly rejected criticism that it would meddle in politics to shape political dynamics ahead of the 2014 election.

On the same day that the investigation letter was leaked, Democratic Party chief patron Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono relieved Anas of his day-to-day duties within the party.

Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha denied that anyone close to the President had leaked the document, saying that the State Palace would never interfere with the KPK’s work.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, Yudho-yono continued to take back complete control of the party from Anas.

Yudhoyono is set to hold a meeting this weekend with hundreds of leaders from the party’s local branches.

The party’s deputy chairman, Max Sopacua, said that more than 500 local branch leaders had confirmed their attendance for the National Leadership Meeting (Rapimnas), which is scheduled for Sunday.

“Yudhoyono, as head of the party’s general assembly, will address the local party leaders to prevent deepening rifts,” Max said.

Ina Parlina contributes to this story

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