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coalition of antigraft watchdogs has found that of 67 candidates selected by a government-sanctioned team tasked with selecting a new batch of KPK commissioners, only around a third are credible.

After looking into 67 of the total 194 candidates declared eligible to move to the next round of selection, the coalition found that only 25 candidates were known for their positive contribution to the eradication of corruption.

The coalition'€™s background check also found 23 candidates with a history of actions or statements undermining the KPK, while others were unsuitable for other reasons.

'€œThere are about 19 candidates without any past activities or statements related to corruption eradication campaigns,'€ Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) activist Lais Abid said in a press briefing on Thursday.

Lais said that the coalition could not assess the backgrounds of the remaining 127 candidates because it had been given no relevant information.

The coalition found in its assessment that 54 candidates had integrity while 38 candidates had problems with their credibility.

'€œWe can'€™t reveal the names as the assessment results could change when the selection team publishes the candidates'€™ CVs,'€ Lais said.

The selection team has yet to publish details of the candidates, preventing the public from scrutinizing their backgrounds.

The coalition also found that of 41 candidates who were or had been lawyers, nine had defended suspects in corruption cases.

Separately, the committee tasked with selecting new commissioners for the Judicial Commission (KY) has announced that former Constitutional Court justice Harjono and two current KY commissioners, Suparman Marzuki and Jaja Ahmad Jayus, are among 18 candidates to have progressed to the final phase of selection.

Selection committee chair Harkristuti Harkrisnowo announced on Thursday that 18 of a total of 35 candidates had passed the profile assessment held last month.

The candidates will participate in the final stage of the process, an interview with members of the committee, on Aug. 3 and 4.

Subsequently, the selection committee expects to select seven candidates that it can then nominate to President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo and the House of Representatives.

The 18 candidates comprise five former judges, including Harjono and Joko Sasmito, a former military judge who once presided over a trial that sentenced three Army Special Forces (Kopassus) members to six to 11 years in prison for murder; five legal scholars, including law professor Sudjito; five legal practitioners or lawyers; and three members of the public.

Two other KY commissioners, Imam Anshori Saleh and Taufiqurrohman, failed to make the grade. According to team member Asep Rahmat Fajar, the assessment had placed both Imam and Taufiqurrohman among those at the bottom of the list.

'€œThe interviews aim to look into the backgrounds and histories of the candidates. Impartiality in terms of political and business interests is important,'€ Asep said, regarding the disqualification of the two current KY commissioners. (ind)