T

he Witness and Victims Protection Agency (LPSK) has criticized the Jakarta Police for issuing a judicial corruption whistle-blower with a Red Notice '€” an Interpol notice that seeks the arrest of wanted persons.

LPSK member Teguh Soedarsono said on Tuesday that the whistle-blower, identified as SW, had been a witness in numerous bribery cases implicating Supreme Court justices and police generals.

'€œThe witness is under LPSK protection. The Red Notice declares him a fugitive,'€ he said after discussing the issue with National Police Commission (Kompolnas) members in South Jakarta.

The Jakarta Police have named SW, a businessman, a suspect in the attempted rape of his former girlfriend, Safersa Yusana.

Safersa, who filed the report with the police, is the secretary of a lawyer named Lucas.

SW revealed to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Judicial Commission that Lucas had paid billions of rupiah in bribes to dozens of judges and police generals.

'€œ[SW] revealed suspected bribery cases implicating justices at the Supreme Court and regional courts and police. It seems that [he also revealed alleged bribery] at the Constitutional Court,'€ Teguh said.

He added that SW had also served as a witness in a case implicating Sudjiono Timan, a fugitive and graft convict who was cleared of all charges by the Supreme Court in August.

Sudjiono, during his tenure as president director of state-owned company PT Bahana Pembinaan Usaha Indonesia (BPUI) from 1994 to 2001, allegedly disbursed hundreds of billions of rupiah to several companies that were not qualified to receive the funds.

The disbursements allegedly caused more than Rp 120 billion (US$10.44 million) in state losses.

Teguh accused the Jakarta Police of criminalizing SW, who has been protected by the LPSK for the last six months.

'€œThe MoU [memorandum of understanding] between the LPSK and the National Police and the 2006 law [on the protection of victims and witnesses] clearly stipulates that witnesses under LPSK protection should not be disturbed,'€ he said.

'€œ[Putting SW on a Red Notice] has prevented him from doing his business or meeting his children and doctor abroad,'€ Teguh continued.

He added that LPSK members had reported the case to National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Oegroseno.

'€œHe [Oegroseno] said he was angry but had no authority [to revoke the notice],'€ Teguh added.

The LPSK'€™s effort to protect SW have been strongly opposed by Safersa.

On Sept. 30, Safersa told members of the House of Representatives'€™ Commission III on legal affairs that four LPSK members had hampered the police'€™s investigation.

The four are LPSK chairman Abdul Haris Semendawai and three commissioners, namely Teguh, Lies Sulistiyaani and Lili Pintauli.