T

he lineup for the ethics board tasked to investigate the leak of a classified document within the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was unveiled on Monday with the antigraft body’s commissioner, Bambang Widjojanto, former KPK chairman Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean and former commissioner Abdullah Hehamahua, who is currently an advisor to the commission, serving as members.

Also sitting on the board are Muslim intellectuals Anies Baswedan and Abdul Muhfti Fajar.

Although Bambang is an active commissioner with the KPK, he was selected as he is considered a neutral figure within the antigraft body.

“The KPK leadership has agreed that he has no conflict of interests,” KPK deputy chairman Busyro Muqoddas said in a press conference to announce the lineup.

The leaders of the KPK agreed to establish an ethics panel to investigate the commission’s involvement — if any — in the leak of a classified document, a draft letter ordering the investigation of former Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum for allegedly accepting a luxury car as a gratuity from state-owned firm PT Adhi Karya.

The investigation of Anas turned political after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the party’s chief patron, pleaded with the KPK to make a final decision as to whether Anas should be charged or
cleared.

The leaked document circulated for several hours before Yudhoyono announced he would take over the party’s leadership from Anas.

The leak sparked speculation on a widening rift among the KPK’s commissioners, and fears that its independence may have been compromised for political interests.

Abdullah said that the board would begin its work next week.

“We will first have a meeting with the KPK leaders and determine our agenda,” he said.

He said the board would summon all individuals who had information leading to the identity of who leaked the classified investigation
document.

Separately, KPK spokesman Johan Budi said the antigraft body was ready to launch an investigation into allegations that members of President Yudhoyono’s family were involved in graft.

“We will verify any information, however scant, with evidence other than what has been said in statements,” Johan said responding to reports that Yudhoyono’s youngest son, Eddhie “Ibas” Baskoro Yudhoyono, received US$900,000 from former Democratic Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin between Jan. 18 and Dec. 29, 2010.

The allegation first came to light in a Twitter feed by a user who identified himself as Abimanyu Abiputra, who wrote “It is just a matter of time before Ibas becomes a suspect. It is obvious that he received $900,000 from Nazaruddin.”

The feed was written on Feb. 22.

In other feeds, Abimanyu said that Nazaruddin wired $500,000 to former youth and sports minister Andi Mallarangeng and $5 million to First Lady Ani Yudhoyono.

An aide to Yudhoyono, Heru Lelono, said the statements on social media sites were slanderous.

“It has to be proportional. We need to avoid slander and smear campaigns,” Heru said as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Heru said the KPK should not make its move based on slanderous statements on social media.

“If the KPK uses the feeds as evidence in its investigation, then we will see law enforcement motivated by jungle law,” he said.

In his speech to announce his resignation from the Democratic Party, Anas Urbaningrum warned that the battle had just begun and that his downfall was not the end of the ongoing political struggle within the ruling party.